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The long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1, hereafter L1) retrotransposon has generated nearly one-third of the human genome and serves as an active source of genetic diversity and human disease1. L1 spreads through a mechanism termed target-primed reverse transcription, in which the encoded enzyme (ORF2p) nicks the target DNA to prime reverse transcription of its own or non-self RNAs2. Here we purified full-length L1 ORF2p and biochemically reconstituted robust target-primed reverse transcription with template RNA and target-site DNA. We report cryo-electron microscopy structures of the complete human L1 ORF2p bound to structured template RNAs and initiating cDNA synthesis. The template polyadenosine tract is recognized in a sequence-specific manner by five distinct domains. Among them, an RNA-binding domain bends the template backbone to allow engagement of an RNA hairpin stem with the L1 ORF2p C-terminal segment. Moreover, structure and biochemical reconstitutions demonstrate an unexpected target-site requirement: L1 ORF2p relies on upstream single-stranded DNA to position the adjacent duplex in the endonuclease active site for nicking of the longer DNA strand, with a single nick generating a staggered DNA break. Our research provides insights into the mechanism of ongoing transposition in the human genome and informs the engineering of retrotransposon proteins for gene therapy.

mRNA measurement is dominated by RT-PCR, which requires expensive laboratory equipment and personnel with advanced degrees. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a versatile technique for detecting target DNA and RNA. The sensitivity of LAMP in early reports has been below that of the standard RT-PCR tests. Here, we report the use of a fluorescence-based RT-LAMP protocol to measure CDX2 expression patterns, which match extremely well to the standards of sophisticated RT-PCR techniques (r = 0.99, p

BACKGROUND: Stress and anxiety during pregnancy are extremely prevalent and are associated with numerous poor outcomes, among the most serious of which are increased rates of preterm birth and low birth weight infants. Research supports that while in-person mindfulness training is effective in reducing pregnancy stress and anxiety, there are barriers limiting accessibility. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to determine if mindfulness meditation training with the Headspace app is effective for stress and anxiety reduction during pregnancy. METHODS: A longitudinal, single-arm trial was implemented with 20 pregnant women who were instructed to practice meditation via the Headspace app twice per day during the month-long trial. Validated scales were used to measure participants levels of stress and anxiety pre- and postintervention. Physiological measures reflective of stress (heart rate variability and sleep) were collected via the Oura Ring. RESULTS: Statistically significant reductions were found in self-reported levels of stress (P=.005), anxiety (P=.01), and pregnancy anxiety (P

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to review the literature on complementary and alternative therapies, utilizing text mining and trend analysis in nursing research. As CAM becomes increasingly prevalent in healthcare settings, a comprehensive understanding of the current research landscape is essential to guide evidence-based practice, inform clinical decision-making, and ultimately enhance patient outcomes. Method This study aimed to identify CAM-related literature published from 2018 to 2023. Using the search terms 'complementary therap*', 'complementary medicine', 'alternative therap*', and 'alternative medicine', we performed a comprehensive search in eight databases, including EMBASE, Cochrane Central, PubMed Central, Korea Education and Research Information Service (RISS), Web of Science, KMbase, KISS, and CINAHL. From the text network and topic modeling analysis of 66,490 documents, 15 topics were identified. These topics were classified into two nursing-related topics through an academic classification process involving three doctors with doctoral degrees, three nurses, and three pharmacists. Based on the classified topics, research trends were comparatively analyzed by re-searching the database for 12 nursing and 22 non-nursing literature. Result This study found that in nursing literature, yoga is used to improve mental symptoms such as stress and anxiety. In non-nursing literature, most of the experimental studies on complementary and alternative therapies were conducted in a randomized manner, confirming that a variety of physiological and objective indicators were used. Additionally, it was discovered that there were differences in the diversity of research subjects and research design methods for the same intervention method. Therefore, future research should focus on broadening the scope of subjects and measurement tools in nursing studies. Additionally, such studies should be conducted with randomization and generalizability in the experimental design in mind. Conclusion This study employed text network analysis and text mining to identify domestic and international CAM research trends. Our novel approach combined big data-derived keywords with a systematic classification method, proposing a new methodological strategy for trend analysis. Future nursing research should focus on broadening the scope of subjects, diversifying measurement tools, and emphasizing randomization and generalizability in experimental designs.

Background: Complementary feeding is the corner stone of child’s nutrition. Most malnourished children had their predicament originating from the period of transition from breast-feeding to family diet. Objectives: To determine the complementary feeding practices and nutritional status of young children in Gwiwa community. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Gwiwa community, Wam- makko LGA, Sokoto State between January and June, 2018. Three hundred and ten mothers with their children aged 6 – 36 months were interviewed using structured interviewer administered questionnaire and the children’s nutritional status was assessed using WHO classification of malnutrition. Data was analysed using SPSS version 22.0.A pvalue ≤0.05 was taken as significant Results: One hundred and forty (45.2%) respondents were aged 15 – 24years and 168(54.2%) were of low socio- economic class. There were 190 males and 120 females with 66 (21.3%) children exclusively breast fed for 6months. The mean age of cessation of breast feeding was 17.8 ±3.6 months. One hundred and sixty-nine (54.5%) children commenced complementary feeding at 6 - 8month of age with the mean age of 5.7(±2.6) months. One hundred and eighty- four (59.4%) used plain pap with 41.2% fed more than 3 times per day. Eighty – two (26.5%), 56(18.1%) and 76 (24.5%) children were under weight, wasted and stunted respectively. Conclusion: The complementary feeding practices were suboptimal in this community and might explain the poor nutritional status of their under fives. Efforts should be geared towards optimal complementary feeding practices in this community.

Analytical or synthetic knowledge is widely considered beneficial for eco‐innovation (EI). For a firm, analytical and synthetic knowledge can be acquired externally through collaboration with various partners or generated internally through R&D and other internal firm activities. However, evidence supporting the assumption that both forms of knowledge are complementary and that "doing more of all" will benefit EI is unclear. We found that external analytical and synthetic knowledge and internal analytical and synthetic knowledge all positively affect EI, with internal analytical being the most prominent. However, combining analytical and synthetic knowledge may not be beneficial for EI. The interaction between analytical and external synthetic knowledge is generally substitutive. We found a particularly significant substitutive effect between internal analytical and internal synthetic knowledge, as well as between internal analytical and external synthetic knowledge. In short, we found little evidence of complementarity between analytical and synthetic knowledge, regardless of where it is acquired from. These findings advise caution to firm managers and policymakers who are considering strategies to combine different forms of knowledge from different sources to successfully achieve EI goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to review the literature on complementary and alternative therapies, utilizing text mining and trend analysis in nursing research. As CAM becomes increasingly prevalent in healthcare settings, a comprehensive understanding of the current research landscape is essential to guide evidence-based practice, inform clinical decision-making, and ultimately enhance patient outcomes. Method: This study aimed to identify CAM-related literature published from 2018 to 2023. Using the search terms 'complementary therap*', 'complementary medicine', 'alternative therap*', and 'alternative medicine', we performed a comprehensive search in eight databases, including EMBASE, Cochrane Central, PubMed Central, Korea Education and Research Information Service (RISS), Web of Science, KMbase, KISS, and CINAHL. From the text network and topic modeling analysis of 66,490 documents, 15 topics were identified. These topics were classified into two nursing-related topics through an academic classification process involving three doctors with doctoral degrees, three nurses, and three pharmacists. Based on the classified topics, research trends were comparatively analyzed by re-searching the database for 12 nursing and 22 non-nursing literature. Result: This study found that in nursing literature, yoga is used to improve mental symptoms such as stress and anxiety. In non-nursing literature, most of the experimental studies on complementary and alternative therapies were conducted in a randomized manner, confirming that a variety of physiological and objective indicators were used. Additionally, it was discovered that there were differences in the diversity of research subjects and research design methods for the same intervention method. Therefore, future research should focus on broadening the scope of subjects and measurement tools in nursing studies. Additionally, such studies should be conducted with randomization and generalizability in the experimental design in mind. Conclusion: This study employed text network analysis and text mining to identify domestic and international CAM research trends. Our novel approach combined big data-derived keywords with a systematic classification method, proposing a new methodological strategy for trend analysis. Future nursing research should focus on broadening the scope of subjects, diversifying measurement tools, and emphasizing randomization and generalizability in experimental designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversified innovative strategies adopted by the new retail format in urban spaces have significantly driven retail transformation and innovation. The combination of online platforms and physical stores provides a substantial advantage in market competition. This paper takes "Freshippo", a typical representative of China's new retail, as an example. Based on multi-source data and using tools such as GIS spatial analysis, statistical analysis, and geographical detectors, this study comprehensively examines the spatial clustering characteristics and influencing factors of Freshippo physical stores in Shanghai. The findings show that Freshippo has significantly expanded in the Shanghai fresh food market by innovatively opening various types of stores. However, there are substantial differences in the proportions of different types of stores, with 94% of the stores having online retail capabilities. Each offline store in the new retail format presents a multi-level "complementary" spatial distribution feature across the urban space, with distinctive clusters in the urban central districts, urban periphery areas, and outer suburban districts. The radiation range of logistics and distribution services exhibits characteristics of "central agglomeration and multi-point distribution", providing residents with diverse and accurate services. Additionally, the comparison of multiple model results shows that the location selection of various types of new retail stores is significantly influenced by multiple factors, especially the nonlinear amplification effect of factor interactions on store agglomeration. These findings provide an important scientific reference for understanding the development of new retail formats and offer new ideas that promote the transformation and innovation of the retail industry, thereby achieving sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our present study is made to use the trnH-psbA spacer gene data to resolve some phylogenetic relationships among the Eucalyptus speices. The species included are E. moorei, E.affn. moorei, E. dives, E. mitchelliana, E. pauciflora and E. stellulata. There were successful amplifications of DNA for the seven Eucalyptus species using gene trnH-psbA. The trnH-psbA spacer is the short with 476 bps. It is to be complimented with rbcL, MatK and trnH-psbA gene study. The trnH-psbA spacer is showing 21 SNPs out of 476 bps segment. The mean length is 733 bps long. Amplification success rate is almost 100%. For each species there are multiple good quality sequences available for the sequence alignment. The trnH-psbA spacer has discriminated 5 species clearly from the rest and the other 3 species are also separated from each other though the distance between them is not significantly noticeable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the rapid advancement of large language models (LLMs), this study explores the potential impact of them on agricultural labor market. Starting from the task level of each of the 15 selected occupations, their exposure to LLMs was assessed by rating the extent to which the required abilities are aligned with those of LLMs, taking also into account the importance of the abilities in each occupation. Findings indicate that while LLMs can significantly enhance cognitive functions, they cannot fully replace the physical, psychomotor, and sensory abilities. As a consequence, while certain tasks are either partially or highly susceptible to LLM implementation, a considerable proportion, involving manual responsibilities, remains largely unaffected. It was seen that occupations heavily reliant on data are at greater risk of substitution. Conversely, some occupations will probably experience an augmenting effect, as LLMs will automate certain cognitive routine tasks, freeing up human workers to focus on more creative non-routine aspects. Furthermore, a negative correlation between exposure to LLMs and exposure to robotization was found highlighting the interconnected dynamics between these two variables within the analyzed context. In conclusion, although LLMs can offer substantial benefits, their integration necessitates careful consideration of their inherent limitations to maximize efficacy and mitigate risks in the agricultural sector.

IntroductionThe coach-athlete relationship is not merely a by-product of the coaching process but serves as its foundation. Coaches today must align their approaches with the characteristics (character, strengths, and growth areas) of a new generation of athletes, commonly referred to as Generation Z (Gen Z). Born between 1995 and 2012, Gen Z's grew up in a digital age, which shaped their character and behaviour. The purpose of the study was to explore coach-athlete relationships, the characteristics of Gen Z athletes that influence this relationship, and the process of building healthy coach-athlete relationships, from the perspectives of coaches.MethodsThe study used a qualitative methodology to elicit the perspectives of 11 male rugby union coaches (M ± SD age: 42.09 ± 7.56 years; with 12.83 ± 3.48 years of coaching experience), through semi-structured individual online interviews. We developed the interview script from Jowett's Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q). The interviews were analysed using Merriam and Tisdell's six-step process.FindingsThe analysis yielded six super themes (and 17 themes). 1. Coach perspectives on coaching Gen Z players (developmental facilitators and debilitators, Covid-19's effect on development). 2. Closeness between coaches and athletes [loving and caring, getting closer, trusting, (not) respecting some players]. 3. Commitment (personally and towards the team, sacrifices). 4. Complementarity (goal setting, collectively working towards common goals). 5. Co-orientation (communicating, reciprocal relationship views). 6. Developing the coach-athlete relationship (approaches thereto, practical steps).DiscussionVarious facets of the coach-athlete relationship are interlinked and shaped by the characteristics and behaviours of this generation of athletes. Practical recommendations are offered on how to cultivate the coach-athlete relationship on emotional, cognitive, and behavioural levels.

Since its discovery in 2016, the Polerovirus Barley virus G has been reported in at least nine countries and multiple species of monocot plants. All of these reports have used PCR and/or sequencing based assays to identify BVG, however none have investigated the biology of BVG. In this study we detail the generation of the first infectious cDNA clone of BVG from archived RNA, thereby producing a valuable experimental tool and system for studying BVG biology. Using this system we identified two compatible aphid vectors and confirmed the susceptibility of several monocot plants, and the dicotyledonous plant host Nicotiana benthamiana, to BVG.

Object: This cross-sectional study aims to investigate migraineurs’ preferred complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) types and the factors influencing their usage. Materials and methods: An anonymous e-survey was distributed to Lithuanian Migraine Association members, and social media migraine support communities. The collected data consisted of demographic, migraine-related questions, personal qualities, CAM habits. Results: 470 respondents were analyzed. 95.96% were women with a median age of 37 (IQR 31, 44). The median duration of migraine was 17.5 years (IQR 10, 25) and the median headache severity was rated 8 (IQR 7, 10) out of 10. 68.90% of participants had one or more headache days per week. 71.49% of respondents were triptan users, 27.66% used medical prophylaxis, and 17.87% used monoclonal antibodies. 52.55% of respondents used CAM in the past 12 months. Physical activity (36.17%), dietary changes/fasting (27.02%), relaxation/meditation (26.60%) were the most used CAM types. Reasons for CAM use included dissatisfaction with conventional treatment effectiveness (42.51%), concerns about safety (48.18%) and adverse effects (37.25%). Factors associated with the decision to explore CAM included longer headache duration (p = 0.017, Mann–Whitney U test), frequent sick leaves (p < 0.001, Mann–Whitney U test), current preventive medication use (p = 0.016, chi-square test), positive views on CAM safety/naturality (p = 0.001/ p < 0.001, Mann–Whitney U test), belief of having a healthy diet (p < 0.001, chi-square test), food-related worries (p = 0.011, Mann–Whitney U test) and Big-five personality trait of openness to experience (p = 0.049, chi-square test). After logistic regression, the frequent need to take sick leaves, having a healthy diet, food-associated fears maintained statistical significance. CAM use was not associated with non-adherence to conventional medicine. 48.99% of CAM consumers disclosed CAM use to their doctors. Conclusion: CAM is explored by a significant proportion of migraineurs, less than half communicate this to their doctors. In our sample, physical activity, dietary changes, and relaxation techniques were the most common. Many patients opted for CAM due to previously experienced side effects/ineffectiveness of conventional migraine treatment or the fear of potential harm from standard medication. Individual factors, such as openness of personality can be an important contributing factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Hypertension is the primary cause of mortality. Hence globally, there is a growing interest in complementing antihypertensive drugs with herbs to alleviate blood pressure among hypertensive patients. Thus, this review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of complementing drugs with herbs on blood pressure and lipid profile outcomes, the associated factors and the types of complementary herbs alongside their consumption regimes. Methods: This review is registered in PROSPERO on the National Institute of Health Database with an ID: CRD42021270481. Using the PICOS (population, intervention, comparison, outcome, study type) mnemonic formula and search strategy, we searched (January 2010 to February 2024) five electronic databases including Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL (Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature) and Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection (PBSC). The inclusion criteria of the review were that all included papers had to be randomised control trials in English among hypertensive adults who complemented antihypertensive drugs with herbs. A Cochrane risk of bias assessment as well as a meta-analysis and narrative synthesis were conducted to answer the objectives. Results: Twenty-five randomised controlled trials involving 1996 participants from 14 countries were included. The risk of bias among included articles was assessed and presented using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and the graphs were generated. The effects of complementing antihypertensive drugs with different herb regimes on blood pressure and lipid profile outcomes were compared to those solely on antihypertensive drugs and placebo via a random model effects meta-analysis using the Revman manager. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and triglycerides gave a significant reduction in favour of the intervention group which complemented herbs. The overall pooled systolic blood pressure showed a reduction of (SMD=0.81, 95 % CI 0.14–1.47, p

Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and its receptor (GRPR) have been identified as itch mediators in the spinal and trigeminal somatosensory systems in rodents. In primates, there are few reports of GRP/GRPR expression or function in the spinal sensory system and virtually nothing is known in the trigeminal system. The aim of the present study was to characterize GRP and GRPR in the trigeminal and spinal somatosensory system of Japanese macaque monkeys (Macaca fuscata). cDNA encoding GRP was isolated from the macaque dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and exhibited an amino acid sequence that was highly conserved among mammals and especially in primates. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that GRP was expressed mainly in the small-sized trigeminal ganglion and DRG in adult macaque monkeys. Densely stained GRP-immunoreactive (ir) fibers were observed in superficial layers of the spinal trigeminal nucleus caudalis (Sp5C) and the spinal cord. In contrast, GRP-ir fibers were rarely observed in the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus and oral and interpolar divisions of the spinal trigeminal nucleus. cDNA cloning, in situ hybridization, and Western blot revealed substantial expression of GRPR mRNA and GRPR protein in the macaque spinal dorsal horn and Sp5C. Our Western ligand blot and ligand derivative stain for GRPR revealed that GRP directly bound in the macaque Sp5C and spinal dorsal horn as reported in rodents. Finally, GRP-ir fibers were also detected in the human spinal dorsal horn. The spinal and trigeminal itch neural circuits labeled with GRP and GRPR appear to function also in primates.

The outputs of renewable energy sources (RESs) are inherently variable and uncertain, such as wind power (WP) and photovoltaic (PV). However, the outputs of various types of RESs in different regions are complementary. If the capacity of RESs could be properly allocated during system planning, variability of the total output could be reduced. Consequently, system reliability and renewable energy (RE) consumption could be improved. This paper proposes an analytical model for optimal complementary capacity allocation of RESs to decrease variability of the total output. The model considers the capacity ratio of RESs as decision variables and the coefficient of variation (CV) of the total output as the objective function. The proposed approach transforms the single-level optimization model into a bilevel optimization model and derives an analytical equation that can directly calculate the optimal complementary capacity ratio (OCCR) of system RESs. Case studies on wind and solar farms in Xinjiang and Qinghai, China, are performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed analytical allocation method.

Background: The introduction of complementary food is the most important factor determining the nutritional status of the children in the first 2 years of life. This study aimed to find out the determinants and patterns of complementary feeding practices and their impact on the growth and development of children of 6–24 months of age group. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done on immunization out patient department (OPD) in the field practice area of the Department of Community Medicine. The sample size taken was 250 using a systematic random sampling method. Results: One hundred and seven (42.8%) were given the optimum amount of complementary food for their age. One hundred and three (41.2%) were fed with an adequate frequency for their age. One hundred and ninety-five (78.0%) were given food that was appropriate in consistency for their age. Among 183 (73.2%) children who were not fed appropriately during and after their illness episodes, 119 (65.0%) were malnourished. On using logistic regression it was seen that the variables which had statistically significant association with the complementary feeding patterns (P0.05). Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference between the feeding patterns of normal and malnourished children. The association of complementary feeding practices and the anthropometric status of study children was not found statistically significant in the present study. Advice on complementary feeding from healthcare workers is seen to be having a positive impact on complementary feeding practices (P < 0.01).

This paper proposes a 500 MS/s 4-bit flash analog-to-digital converter (ADC) featuring a differential input voltage range of 1.2 Vpp operating at a supply voltage of 1.2 V. Although the proposed circuit utilizes a conventional flash ADC structure, its track and hold circuit, driving buffer, and preamp circuits corresponding to the analog stages are designed using complementary architecture to attain a sufficient swing range even at a low supply voltage. Notably, the proposed structure satisfies the error requirements. The error source of the flash ADC, such as the comparator’s input referred offset, did not degrade its performance, while the use of a calibration circuit, characterized by power consumption and area burdens and increased complexity, could also be avoided. Therefore, the proposed flash ADC met the error requirements, such as the comparator’s input referred offset, without the need for calibration circuits. The chip, fabricated using the TSMC 65 nm process, covers an area of 1,160 × 950 μm2 and consumes 78 mW of power. Furthermore, its signal-to-noise and distortion ratio and spurious-free dynamic range were measured to be 23.36 dB and 30.26 dB, respectively, at a sampling frequency of 500 MHz.

Purpose of reviewIntegrative medicine is the practice of combining conventional medical treatments with "alternative" or "complementary" therapies. Integrative psychiatry is a holistic, person-centered approach to neuropsychiatric disorders that emphasizes a person's physical, emotional, interpersonal, behavioral, nutritional, environmental, and spiritual dimensions to achieve well-being. Older adults are more prone to physical injury, interpersonal loss, chronic illnesses, and physical and cognitive decline that can manifest as anxiety, depression, with functional decline and inability to care for self. Additionally, stress of caring for older adults with dementia can adversely affect caregivers' health. Although integrative approaches are perceived as safer and less stigmatizing, it is important to understand the risks and benefits of such therapies for older adults with neurocognitive disorders and their caregivers.Recent findingsHere, we summarize the results of the recent clinical trials and meta-analyses that provide evidence for integrative approaches to treating older adults with cognitive disorders and their caregivers which include the use of diet and supplements, and mind-body therapies. Dietary and mind-body therapies have become increasingly popular and show the strongest evidence of effectiveness for cognitive disorders and caregiver stress. Vitamins and supplements are the most popular integrative intervention, but there is mixed evidence supporting their use and the concern for herb (supplement)-drug interactions. While there is increasing popularity of integrative treatments, information to guide clinicians providing care for older adults remains limited, with variable scientific rigor of the available RCTs for a large number of commonly used integrative interventions particularly for cognitive disorders and caregiver stress and well-being.

This work presents a design for a complementary antenna with circular polarization that has a wide operating bandwidth, stable broadside radiation, and stable gain for X-band applications. The proposed antenna consists of an irregular loop and a parasitic electric dipole, which work together to produce equivalent radiation from the magnetic and electric dipoles. By arranging the dipole and the loop in a specific geometry, this antenna effectively generates circularly polarized wave propagation. A substrate integrated coaxial line (SICL) is applied to feed the antenna through an aperture cutting on the ground. The proposed antenna achieves a wide axial ratio (AR) and impedance bandwidths of 27.4% (from 8.5 to 11.22 GHz, for the AR ≤ 3 dB) and 39.6% (from 7.5 to 11.2 GHz, for the reflection coefficient ≤ −10 dB), respectively. Moreover, the antenna maintains a stable broadside radiation pattern across the operating bandwidth, with an average gain of 10 dBic. This proposed antenna design is competitive for X-band wireless communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The introduction of complementary food is the most important factor determining the nutritional status of the children in the first 2 years of life. This study aimed to find out the determinants and patterns of complementary feeding practices and their impact on the growth and development of children of 6–24 months of age group. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done on immunization out patient department (OPD) in the field practice area of the Department of Community Medicine. The sample size taken was 250 using a systematic random sampling method. Results: One hundred and seven (42.8%) were given the optimum amount of complementary food for their age. One hundred and three (41.2%) were fed with an adequate frequency for their age. One hundred and ninety-five (78.0%) were given food that was appropriate in consistency for their age. Among 183 (73.2%) children who were not fed appropriately during and after their illness episodes, 119 (65.0%) were malnourished. On using logistic regression it was seen that the variables which had statistically significant association with the complementary feeding patterns (P<0.05) were maternal education, father's age, total members in the family, advice on complementary feeding from health care workers and use of bottle for feeding. Father's education, availability of ration card, antenatal counselling on childcare, birth order and history of repeated illness in the past did not show statistically significant association with complementary feeding practices (P>0.05). Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference between the feeding patterns of normal and malnourished children. The association of complementary feeding practices and the anthropometric status of study children was not found statistically significant in the present study. Advice on complementary feeding from healthcare workers is seen to be having a positive impact on complementary feeding practices (P < 0.01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the concept of "Clip Thinking" in the context of the digital age and investigates whether it is a complimentary or contradictory approach. Clip Thinking refers to the tendency of individuals to consume information and ideas in short, fragmented, and easily digestible formats, often facilitated by social media platforms and digital technologies. While Clip Thinking offers benefits such as quick access to diverse perspectives and efficient information processing, it also raises concerns about shallow engagement, echo chambers, and reduced critical thinking skills. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys, to gather insights from participants representing different age groups, educational backgrounds, and digital media consumption habits. The qualitative interviews delve into participants' motivations, habits, and experiences related to Clip Thinking, providing an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon. The quantitative surveys measure participants' information consumption patterns, cognitive abilities, and attitudes towards Clip Thinking. On one hand, participants appreciate the convenience and accessibility offered by short, clipped content. They find it easier to navigate the overwhelming information landscape, rapidly browse topics of interest, and connect with a broader range of ideas. On the other hand, concerns emerge regarding the potential for information overload, reduced attention spans, and a lack of depth in understanding complex issues. Participants express worries about the erosion of critical thinking skills and the creation of filter bubbles that reinforce pre-existing beliefs. By analyzing the data collected, this paper aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the impacts of Clip Thinking on individuals' cognitive processes, decision-making abilities, and overall information consumption habits. The study's conclusions will inform educators, policymakers, and media platforms about the challenges and opportunities associated with promoting a balanced information ecosystem in the digital age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In West Africa, healers greatly outnumber trained mental health professionals. People with serious mental illness (SMI) are often seen by healers in "prayer camps" where they may also experience human rights abuses. We developed "M&M," an 8-week-long dual-pronged intervention involving (1) a smartphone-delivered toolkit designed to expose healers to brief psychosocial interventions and encourage them to preserve human rights (M-Healer app), and (2) a visiting nurse who provides medications to their patients (Mobile Nurse). Objective: We examined the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and preliminary effectiveness of the M&M intervention in real-world prayer camp settings. Methods: We conducted a single-arm field trial of M&M with people with SMI and healers at a prayer camp in Ghana. Healers were provided smartphones with M-Healer installed and were trained by practice facilitators to use the digital toolkit. In parallel, a study nurse visited their prayer camp to administer medications to their patients. Clinical assessors administered study measures to participants with SMI at pretreatment (baseline), midtreatment (4 weeks) and post treatment (8 weeks). Results: Seventeen participants were enrolled and most (n=15, 88.3%) were retained. Participants had an average age of 44.3 (SD 13.9) years and 59% (n=10) of them were male. Fourteen (82%) participants had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and 2 (18%) were diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Four healers were trained to use M-Healer. On average, they self-initiated app use 31.9 (SD 28.9) times per week. Healers watched an average of 19.1 (SD 21.2) videos, responded to 1.5 (SD 2.4) prompts, and used the app for 5.3 (SD 2.7) days weekly. Pre-post analyses revealed a significant and clinically meaningful reduction in psychiatric symptom severity (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale score range 52.3 to 30.9; Brief Symptom Inventory score range 76.4 to 27.9), psychological distress (Talbieh Brief Distress Inventory score range 37.7 to 16.9), shame (Other as Shamer Scale score range 41.9 to 28.5), and stigma (Brief Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale score range 11.8 to 10.3). We recorded a significant reduction in days chained (1.6 to 0.5) and a promising trend for reduction in the days of forced fasting (2.6 to 0.0, P=.06). We did not identify significant pre-post changes in patient-reported working alliance with healers (Working Alliance Inventory), depressive symptom severity (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), quality of life (Lehman Quality of Life Interview for the Mentally Ill), beliefs about medication (Beliefs about Medications Questionnaire--General Harm subscale), or other human rights abuses. No major side effects, health and safety violations, or serious adverse events occurred over the course of the trial. Conclusions: The M&M intervention proved to be feasible, acceptable, safe, and clinically promising. Preliminary findings suggest that the M-Healer toolkit may have shifted healers' behaviors at the prayer camp so that they commit fewer human rights abuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted on ridge gourd in six generations i.e., P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 of VRG-24 x VRG-13 and Swarna Manjari x Arka Prasan in Randomized Block Design with three replications. The main aim of the study was to investigate the genetic mechanisms controlling yield and quality traits through generation mean analysis. Epistatic gene effects were found to play a crucial role in regulating most of the traits studied, except for days to male flowering, days to female flowering, node of first female flower, average fruit weight, and rind thickness in various crosses. Duplicate epistasis was particularly prominent across the majority of traits, suggesting that these traits could be effectively exploited through heterosis breeding and reciprocal recurrent selection strategies. Additionally, complementary epistasis was observed in the cross VRG-24 x VRG-13 for traits such as node of first female flower, number of female flowers per vine, and number of fruits per vine. This highlights the potential of the VRG-24 x VRG-13 cross to produce desirable transgressive segregants with enhanced trait combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectThis cross-sectional study aims to investigate migraineurs’ preferred complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) types and the factors influencing their usage.Materials and methodsAn anonymous e-survey was distributed to Lithuanian Migraine Association members, and social media migraine support communities. The collected data consisted of demographic, migraine-related questions, personal qualities, CAM habits.Results470 respondents were analyzed. 95.96% were women with a median age of 37 (IQR 31, 44). The median duration of migraine was 17.5 years (IQR 10, 25) and the median headache severity was rated 8 (IQR 7, 10) out of 10. 68.90% of participants had one or more headache days per week. 71.49% of respondents were triptan users, 27.66% used medical prophylaxis, and 17.87% used monoclonal antibodies. 52.55% of respondents used CAM in the past 12 months. Physical activity (36.17%), dietary changes/fasting (27.02%), relaxation/meditation (26.60%) were the most used CAM types. Reasons for CAM use included dissatisfaction with conventional treatment effectiveness (42.51%), concerns about safety (48.18%) and adverse effects (37.25%). Factors associated with the decision to explore CAM included longer headache duration (p = 0.017, Mann–Whitney U test), frequent sick leaves (p

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has emerged to combat the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, no studies have been conducted to evaluate the attitudes, knowledge, and barriers of Chinese clinical and nursing students in implementing CAM during this period. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the attitude, knowledge, and barriers of Chinese clinical and nursing students in using CAM in the context of COVID-19. Methods: An online-based cross-sectional survey was carried out among Chinese medical students, majoring in clinical medicine or nursing, in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, and Zhengzhou, Henan Province from May to July 2022. A total of 402 clinical and 644 nursing students responded to a self-administered questionnaire through the Questionnaire Star and WeChat APPs. SPSS 25 (version 25) was used for data analysis. Proportions were compared by Chi-square test. Level of significance between groups was analyzed using independent student t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The average score of attitude was 46.63 (SD: 7.38) in clinical students and 49.84 (SD: 6.76) in nursing students. The top four most commonly used CAM treatments in China were proprietary Chinese medicine, diet therapy, decoction, and acupuncture and moxibustion (59.66 %, 22.28 %, 11.66 %, 9.85 %). The students had a good mastery of knowledge about CAM-based prevention and control of COVID-19 (mean score 7.36). The score of CAM knowledge in nursing students was significantly higher than that in clinical students (7.56 VS 7.04, P = 0.000). Gender, grade, previous use, age, and knowledge score could affect students’ attitude towards CAM. The main barriers in spreading CAM use included time-consumption, bad taste, and fear of treatment-related pain (24.5 %). Compared with clinical students, nursing students were more likely to recommend CAM to patients in the future (P = 0.002). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing students were more positive towards CAM use, had a better mastery of CAM knowledge than clinical students. CAM is expected to provide better outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Future studies should focus on the changes in students’ attitudes over time and exploration of influencing factors on CAM use.

Broad evolutionary expansion of polymerase families has enabled specialization of their activities for distinct cellular roles. In addition to template-complementary synthesis, many polymerases extend their duplex products by nontemplated nucleotide addition (NTA). This activity is exploited for laboratory strategies of cloning and sequencing nucleic acids and could have important biological function, although the latter has been challenging to test without separation-of-function mutations. Several retroelement and retroviral reverse transcriptases (RTs) support NTA and also template jumping, by which the RT performs continuous complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis using physically separate templates. Previous studies that aimed to dissect the relationship between NTA and template jumping leave open questions about structural requirements for each activity and their interdependence. Here, we characterize the structural requirements for cDNA synthesis, NTA, template jumping, and the unique terminal transferase activity of Bombyx mori R2 non-long terminal repeat retroelement RT. With sequence alignments and structure modeling to guide mutagenesis, we generated enzyme variants across motifs generally conserved or specific to RT subgroups. Enzyme variants had diverse NTA profiles not correlated with other changes in cDNA synthesis activity or template jumping. Using these enzyme variants and panels of activity assay conditions, we show that template jumping requires NTA. However, template jumping by NTA-deficient enzymes can be rescued using primer duplex with a specific length of 3' overhang. Our findings clarify the relationship between NTA and template jumping as well as additional activities of non-long terminal repeat RTs, with implications for the specialization of RT biological functions and laboratory applications.

To treat the impact of trauma, most current evidence supports the use of trauma-focused psychotherapy as the first line approach. However, millions of individuals exposed to trauma worldwide seek Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) therapies in hopes of achieving wellness above and beyond reducing symptoms. But what is the evidence for CIH interventions? What are potential pitfalls? Given the growing popularity of and strong interest in CIH, EJPT is featuring research on these approaches in this special issue. The papers range from common interventions such as mindfulness to the use of service dogs and scuba diving to alleviate trauma related symptoms. A featured editorial highlights the importance of defining when, where, and how placebo responses work. Nonspecific elements of treatment such as positive expectations, therapeutic rituals, healing symbols, and social interactions are identified as factors influencing treatment response and scientists looking to add to the CIH evidence base are encouraged to consider the impact and methodological challenges these elements present. CIH interventions more specifically recognize and harness some of these factors in addition to intervention-specific factors such as attention or emotion regulation along with focus on overall wellbeing. The body of work in this special issue supports the emerging evidence for meditative and relaxation-based interventions and illustrates a creative but nascent state of the field. Cross-intervention mechanisms that may play a role in achieving wellness, such as arousal reduction, emotion regulation, posttraumatic growth, and positive affect are highlighted. The trauma field would benefit from accumulation of evidence for promising CIH interventions, evaluation of potential mechanisms, and examination of health and wellbeing outcomes. With the paucity of high-quality trials, it would be premature to recommend CIH interventions as first-line treatments. However, the emerging literature on CIH continues to advance our understanding of what works and how these interventions exert their effects. Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) interventions for trauma that target holistic wellness above and beyond symptom reduction are increasingly used in the real world, though the evidence base lags. Papers in this issue support the emerging evidence for efficacy of mindfulness or other meditative or relaxation-based interventions. This special issue illustrates creative approaches but also the need for continued research establishing efficacy, evaluating more inclusive outcomes (e.g. a sense of wellbeing or ability to pursue valued life goals), and identifying potential mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explain the indicators of human resource productivity management in Kerman executive agencies. It is a descriptive, correlational as well as a developmental study purposefully conducted as a survey in the field of human resources. The sample includes 30 experts in the field of management and administration. It was obtained by purposeful sampling method and included 524 employees of the Kerman executive agencies that were gathered by stratified sampling method. Two questionnaires were used by the experts to confirm the validity and reliability of the model and one questionnaire was used to answer the questions. The validity and reliability of all questionnaires were confirmed. AMOS and SPSS statistical software were used for data analysis. The 42 subscales of human resource productivity management are summarized in 5 factors (individual, organizational, complementary organizational, occupational, and extra-organizational). It is an applieddevelopmental study considering the simultaneous identification of factors related to human resource productivity in line with the development indicators and can be used by all executive agencies throughout Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scoping review aimed to examine the existing evidence on complementary and alternative medicine interventions for preeclampsia, emphasizing empowering midwives in postpartum treatment. Three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus) were used following the PRISMA-2020 guidelines to find articles from January 2012 to December 2022 and synthesized using Rayyan AI software. A total of 707 articles were initially identified, 7 were included in the review. Traditional Chinese Medicine combined with Western medicine showed promise in treating severe preeclampsia. Massage therapy reduced anxiety, aromatherapy positively affected postpartum well-being, and warm foot therapy reduced swelling associated with postpartum preeclampsia. Using herbal ingredients, lavender aromatherapy, magnesium sulfate, massage, and physical therapy contributed to successful postpartum preeclampsia management. Complementary and alternative medicine, collaboration with community health workers, clear guidelines, targeted training, and future research are crucial for effective postpartum preeclampsia management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence in humans suggests a correlation between nicotine smoking and severe respiratory symptoms with COVID-19 infection. In lung tissue, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) appears to mechanistically underlie viral entry. Here, we investigated whether e-cigarette vapor inhalation alters ACE2 and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) expression in male and female mice. In male lung, nicotine vapor inhalation induced a significant increase in ACE2 mRNA and protein, but surprisingly, these differences were not found in females. Further, both vehicle and nicotine vapor inhalation downregulated α5 nAChR subunits in both sexes, while differences were not found in α7 nAChR subunit expression. Finally, blood ACE2 levels did not differ with exposure, indicating that blood sampling is not a sufficient indicator of lung ACE2 changes. Together, these data indicate a direct link between e-cigarette vaping and increased ACE2 expression in male lung tissue, which thereby reveals an underlying mechanism of increased vulnerability to coronavirus infection in individuals vaping nicotine.

Technical challenges remain in the sequencing of RNA viruses due to their high intra-host diversity. This bottleneck is particularly pronounced when interrogating long-range co-evolved genetic interactions given the read-length limitations of next-generation sequencing platforms. This has hampered the direct observation of these genetic interactions that code for protein-protein interfaces with relevance in both drug and vaccine development. Here we overcome these technical limitations by developing a nanopore-based long-range viral sequencing pipeline that yields accurate single molecule sequences of circulating virions from clinical samples. We demonstrate its utility in observing the evolution of individual HIV Gag-Pol genomes in response to antiviral pressure. Our pipeline, called Multi-read Hairpin Mediated Error-correction Reaction (MrHAMER), yields >1000s of viral genomes per sample at 99.9% accuracy, maintains the original proportion of sequenced virions present in a complex mixture, and allows the detection of rare viral genomes with their associated mutations present at

RNA molecules can fold into complex two- and three-dimensional shapes that are critical for their function. Chemical probes have long been utilized to interrogate RNA structure and are now considered invaluable resources in the goal of relating structure to function. Recently, the power of deep sequencing and careful chemical probe design have merged, permitting researchers to obtain a holistic understanding of how RNA structure can be utilized to control RNA biology transcriptome-wide. Within this review, we outline the recent advancements in chemical probe design for interrogating RNA structures inside cells and discuss the recent advances in our understanding of RNA biology through the lens of chemical probing.

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a monogenic primary immune deficiency characterized by very low levels of immunoglobulins and greatly increased risks for recurrent and severe infections. Patients with XLA have a loss-of-function mutation in the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) gene and fail to produce mature B lymphocytes. Gene editing in the hematopoietic stem cells of XLA patients to correct or replace the defective gene should restore B cell development and the humoral immune response. We used the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 platform to precisely target integration of a corrective, codon-optimized BTK complementary DNA (cDNA) cassette into its endogenous locus. This process is driven by homologous recombination and should place the transgenic BTK under transcriptional control of its endogenous regulatory elements. Each integrated copy of this cDNA in BTK-deficient K562 cells produced only 11% as much BTK protein as the wild-type gene. The donor cDNA was modified to include the terminal intron of the BTK gene. Successful integration of the intron-containing BTK donor led to a nearly twofold increase in BTK expression per cell over the base donor. However, this donor variant was too large to package into an adeno-associated viral vector for delivery into primary cells. Donors containing truncated variants of the terminal intron also produced elevated expression, although to a lesser degree than the full intron. Addition of the Woodchuck hepatitis virus posttranscriptional regulatory element led to a large boost in BTK transgene expression. Combining these modifications led to a BTK donor template that generated nearly physiological levels of BTK expression in cell lines. These reagents were then optimized to maximize integration rates into human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, which have reached potentially therapeutic levels in vitro. The novel donor modifications support effective gene therapy for XLA and will likely assist in the development of other gene editing-based therapies for genetic disorders.

Although high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has greatly advanced small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) discovery, the currently widely used complementary DNA library construction protocol generates biased sequencing results. This is partially due to RNA modifications that interfere with adapter ligation and reverse transcription processes, which prevent the detection of sncRNAs bearing these modifications. Here, we present PANDORA-seq (panoramic RNA display by overcoming RNA modification aborted sequencing), employing a combinatorial enzymatic treatment to remove key RNA modifications that block adapter ligation and reverse transcription. PANDORA-seq identified abundant modified sncRNAs-mostly transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) and ribosomal RNA-derived small RNAs (rsRNAs)-that were previously undetected, exhibiting tissue-specific expression across mouse brain, liver, spleen and sperm, as well as cell-specific expression across embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and HeLa cells. Using PANDORA-seq, we revealed unprecedented landscapes of microRNA, tsRNA and rsRNA dynamics during the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells. Importantly, tsRNAs and rsRNAs that are downregulated during somatic cell reprogramming impact cellular translation in ESCs, suggesting a role in lineage differentiation.

Background: Problems arising during menstruation include pain before or during menstruation. Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) techniques and endorphin massage (EM) therapy are effective in controlling menstrual pain. This study aims to determine the difference in the effectiveness of pain intensity carried out by PMR therapy and EM therapy. Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental research with a two-group pretest and posttest design. Respondents were selected using a purposive sampling technique with inclusion and exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria included students who experienced dysmenorrhea and do not have a genetic abnormality. The respondents who met the criteria were 80 respondents. The respondents were randomly selected using computerized to divide them into two groups. Forty respondents received PMR intervention and another 40 respondents received EM intervention. Bivariate analysis was performed using Wilcoxon test. Identification of respondents who fit the criteria, i.e. adolescents aged 13-14 years who experience menstrual pain, and do not have genetic abnormalities. Pain measurement was performed with a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test. Results: PMR is more effective in lower intensity painful menstruation compared to EM proven that the average painful menstruation after PMR was 2.42±0.675, while the average painful menstruation after EM was 2.90±0955 with a difference of 4.8 points with a significance level of 0.000. Menstrual pain can be reduced by blocking nerve impulses from reaching the brain, including PMR therapy to control tension and anxiety. Conclusion: PMR therapy is more effective for controlling menstrual pain. PMR therapy can be done alone by adolescents when menstrual pain appears.

Diversity-generating retroelements (DGRs) vary protein sequences to the greatest extent known in the natural world. These elements are encoded by constituents of the human microbiome and the microbial 'dark matter'. Variation occurs through adenine-mutagenesis, in which genetic information in RNA is reverse transcribed faithfully to cDNA for all template bases but adenine. We investigated the determinants of adenine-mutagenesis in the prototypical Bordetella bacteriophage DGR through an in vitro system composed of the reverse transcriptase bRT, Avd protein, and a specific RNA. We found that the catalytic efficiency for correct incorporation during reverse transcription by the bRT-Avd complex was strikingly low for all template bases, with the lowest occurring for adenine. Misincorporation across a template adenine was only somewhat lower in efficiency than correct incorporation. We found that the C6, but not the N1 or C2, purine substituent was a key determinant of adenine-mutagenesis. bRT-Avd was insensitive to the C6 amine of adenine but recognized the C6 carbonyl of guanine. We also identified two bRT amino acids predicted to nonspecifically contact incoming dNTPs, R74 and I181, as promoters of adenine-mutagenesis. Our results suggest that the overall low catalytic efficiency of bRT-Avd is intimately tied to its ability to carry out adenine-mutagenesis.

The in vivo metabolism and pharmacokinetics of flunixin meglumine and phenylbutazone have been extensively characterized; however, there are no published reports describing the in vitro metabolism, specifically the enzymes responsible for the biotransformation of these compounds in horses. Due to their widespread use and, therefore, increased potential for drug-drug interactions and widespread differences in drug disposition, this study aims to build on the limited current knowledge regarding P450-mediated metabolism in horses. Drugs were incubated with equine liver microsomes and a panel of recombinant equine P450s. Incubation of phenylbutazone in microsomes generated oxyphenbutazone and gamma-hydroxy phenylbutazone. Microsomal incubations with flunixin meglumine generated 5-OH flunixin, with a kinetic profile suggestive of substrate inhibition. In recombinant P450 assays, equine CYP3A97 was the only enzyme capable of generating oxyphenbutazone while several members of the equine CYP3A family and CYP1A1 were capable of catalyzing the biotransformation of flunixin to 5-OH flunixin. Flunixin meglumine metabolism by CYP1A1 and CYP3A93 showed a profile characteristic of biphasic kinetics, suggesting two substrate binding sites. The current study identifies specific enzymes responsible for the metabolism of two NSAIDs in horses and provides the basis for future study of drug-drug interactions and identification of reasons for varying pharmacokinetics between horses.

Powdery mildews are notorious fungal plant pathogens but only limited information exists on their genomes. Here we present the mitochondrial genome of the grape powdery mildew fungus Erysiphe necator and a high-quality mitochondrial gene annotation generated through cloning and Sanger sequencing of full-length cDNA clones. The E. necator mitochondrial genome consists of a circular DNA sequence of 188,577 bp that harbors a core set of 14 protein-coding genes that are typically present in fungal mitochondrial genomes, along with genes encoding the small and large ribosomal subunits, a ribosomal protein S3, and 25 mitochondrial-encoded transfer RNAs (mt-tRNAs). Interestingly, it also exhibits a distinct gene organization with atypical bicistronic-like expression of the nad4L/nad5 and atp6/nad3 gene pairs, and contains a large number of 70 introns, making it one of the richest in introns mitochondrial genomes among fungi. Sixty-four intronic ORFs were also found, most of which encoded homing endonucleases of the LAGLIDADG or GIY-YIG families. Further comparative analysis of five E. necator isolates revealed 203 polymorphic sites, but only five were located within exons of the core mitochondrial genes. These results provide insights into the organization of mitochondrial genomes of powdery mildews and represent valuable resources for population genetic and evolutionary studies.

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To treat the impact of trauma, most current evidence supports the use of trauma-focused psychotherapy as the first line approach. However, millions of individuals exposed to trauma worldwide seek Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) therapies in hopes of achieving wellness above and beyond reducing symptoms. But what is the evidence for CIH interventions? What are potential pitfalls? Given the growing popularity of and strong interest in CIH, EJPT is featuring research on these approaches in this special issue. The papers range from common interventions such as mindfulness to the use of service dogs and scuba diving to alleviate trauma related symptoms. A featured editorial highlights the importance of defining when, where, and how placebo responses work. Nonspecific elements of treatment such as positive expectations, therapeutic rituals, healing symbols, and social interactions are identified as factors influencing treatment response and scientists looking to add to the CIH evidence base are encouraged to consider the impact and methodological challenges these elements present. CIH interventions more specifically recognize and harness some of these factors in addition to intervention-specific factors such as attention or emotion regulation along with focus on overall wellbeing. The body of work in this special issue supports the emerging evidence for meditative and relaxation-based interventions and illustrates a creative but nascent state of the field. Cross-intervention mechanisms that may play a role in achieving wellness, such as arousal reduction, emotion regulation, posttraumatic growth, and positive affect are highlighted. The trauma field would benefit from accumulation of evidence for promising CIH interventions, evaluation of potential mechanisms, and examination of health and wellbeing outcomes. With the paucity of high-quality trials, it would be premature to recommend CIH interventions as first-line treatments. However, the emerging literature on CIH continues to advance our understanding of what works and how these interventions exert their effects.

Objective: Fear of cancer recurrence among cancer survivors is a psychosocial concern that affects recovery and quality of life. They use complementary and alternative medicine to prevent the side effects of drugs and relieve anxiety and fear of cancer recurrence. This study aimed to examine the correlation between the use of complementary and alternative medicine and the fear of cancer recurrence in cancer survivors. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive correlational study enrolled 280 cancer survivors referred to oncology centers and medical offices in Kerman using convenience sampling. The research tools included complementary and alternative medicine questionnaire and the fear of cancer recurrence inventory. IBM SPSS Statistics version 25 was used to analyze the data. Results: The study findings revealed that 78.2% of the participants used at least one type of complementary and alternative medicine in the last year; 71.8% used medicinal herbs, 19.6% used nutritional supplements, 7.5% used relaxation and meditation, 7.1% used dry cupping, and 5.7% used wet cupping. The mean score of fear of cancer recurrence was 80.72 ​± ​18.46, which was almost near the midpoint of the inventory score (84). The fear of cancer recurrence and its dimensions did not differ between users and nonusers of complementary and alternative medicine. Conclusions: Our results suggested that most of the survivors used at least one type of complementary and alternative medicine in the past year, and medicinal herbs and nutritional supplements were the most used types. Patients with cancer must be aware of the effects of different kinds of complementary and alternative medicine. A moderate level in the mean score of fear of cancer recurrence was found, and no difference was noted between users and nonusers of complementary and alternative medicine. Health managers and planners should conduct effective psychological interventions and strategies to minimize the fear of cancer recurrence among cancer survivors.

Depression represents one of the most common non-motor disorders in Parkinson's disease (PD) and it has been related to worse life quality, higher levels of disability, and cognitive impairment, thereby majorly affecting not only the patients but also their caregivers. Available pharmacological therapeutic options for depression in PD mainly include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and tricyclic antidepressants; meanwhile, agents acting on dopaminergic pathways used for motor symptoms, such as levodopa, dopaminergic agonists, and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors, may also provide beneficial antidepressant effects. Recently, there is a growing interest in non-pharmacological interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy; physical exercise, including dance and mind–body exercises, such as yoga, tai chi, and qigong; acupuncture; therapeutic massage; music therapy; active therapy; repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS); and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for refractory cases. However, the optimal treatment approach for PD depression is uncertain, its management may be challenging, and definite guidelines are also lacking. It is still unclear which of these interventions is the most appropriate and for which PD stage under which circumstances. Herein, we aim to provide an updated comprehensive review of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for depression in PD, focusing on recent clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Finally, we discuss the pharmacological agents that are currently under investigation at a clinical level, as well as future approaches based on the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the onset of depression in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smartphone is now a widespread trend that causes phone accessory markets to rise. The high penetration rate of smartphones has led to a saturated market. The accessory market not only has tremendous business opportunities but also high potential. In practice, the decision of whether to join the accessory market differentiates by each smartphone firm. This study analyzed and discussed the main product firms' optimal decisions of whether to enter the accessory market by using game theory as a construct model. Considering the different competition situations, the decision of whether the main product firm invests in the accessory market affected the market demand, pricing, and profit of all firms. Furthermore, we analyzed the differences in the external environment to determine what the best decision for the main product firm was. The results of the research show that complementary effects do not always have a positive influence on firms' willingness to join the accessory market. When weak main product firms have different market forces in the main product market, the dominant main product firms are not necessarily more willing to join the accessory market than weak firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe an RT-PCR protocol that allows high-resolution mapping of splicing products and isoforms using fluorescently labeled primers. Each species contains one fluorescent group allowing a direct comparison of the different isoforms despite size differences. A custom-size ladder enables the precise determination of cDNA lengths and discrimination of isoforms differing by less than five nucleotides on polyacrylamide gels. This protocol also allows the detection of products from in vitro splicing reactions, circumventing the need to use radiolabeled transcripts. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Gabunilas and Chanfreau (2016).

PurposeThe use of complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) is on the rise among diverse populations of older adults in the USA. CIM is commonly perceived as safer, less expensive, and more culturally acceptable. There is a growing body of evidence to support the use of CIM, especially mind-body therapies, diet and nutritional supplements used for mental disorders of aging.Recent findingsWe summarize the results of the recent clinical trials and meta-analyses that provide the evidence for the role of CIM in treating older adults with mood or cognitive disorders that includes the use of diet and supplements, and mind-body therapies.SummaryDietary and mind-body therapies have become increasingly popular and show the strongest evidence of efficacy for mood and cognitive disorders. Although the use of vitamins and supplements is the most popular CIM practice, only mixed evidence supports their use with additional concerns for herb (supplement)-drug interactions. Despite increasing use of CIM by the general population, information to guide clinicians providing care for older adults remains limited with variable scientific rigor of the available RCTs for a large number of commonly used CIM interventions for the mental health of older adults.

Transcriptome profiling by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has been widely used to characterize cellular status, but it relies on second-strand complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis to generate initial material for library preparation. Here we use bacterial transposase Tn5, which has been increasingly used in various high-throughput DNA analyses, to construct RNA-seq libraries without second-strand synthesis. We show that Tn5 transposome can randomly bind RNA/DNA heteroduplexes and add sequencing adapters onto RNA directly after reverse transcription. This method, Sequencing HEteRo RNA-DNA-hYbrid (SHERRY), is versatile and scalable. SHERRY accepts a wide range of starting materials, from bulk RNA to single cells. SHERRY offers a greatly simplified protocol and produces results with higher reproducibility and GC uniformity compared with prevailing RNA-seq methods.

High-throughput sequencing has become a standard tool for analyzing RNA and DNA. This method usually needs a cDNA/DNA library ligated with specific 5' and 3' linkers. Unlike mRNA, small RNA often contains modifications including 5' cap or triphosphate and 2'-O-methyl, requiring additional processing steps before linker additions during cloning processes; due to low expression levels, it is difficult to clone small RNA with a small amount of total RNA. Here we present a new strategy to clone 5' modified or unmodified small RNA in an all-liquid-based reaction carried out in a single PCR tube with as little as 20 ng total RNA. The 7-h cloning process only needs ∼1 h of labor. Moreover, this method can also clone mRNA, simplifying the need to prepare two cloning systems for small RNA and mRNA; the barcoded PCR primers are also compatible with non-cDNA cloning applications, including the preparation of genomic libraries. Not only is our method more convenient for cloning modified RNA than available methods, but it is also more sensitive, versatile, and cost-effective. Moreover, the all-liquid-based reaction can be performed in an automated manner.