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BackgroundThe number of older adults is increasing rapidly worldwide. Older adults face a unique set of challenges and may experience a range of psychological comorbidities. Advances in multimedia technology have allowed for digital storytelling to be utilized as an intervention for health-related outcomes. ObjectiveThe primary aim of the proposed systematic review is to examine the reported health-related outcomes for older adults engaged in digital storytelling. The review also aims to examine the methods associated with digital storytelling, characteristics of digital story products, and implementational considerations. MethodsThis protocol adheres to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols. We will systematically search selected electronic databases to identify studies that meet our eligibility criteria. From the included studies, data will be extracted and synthesized using a narrative approach and summarized in tables. The methodological quality of the included studies will be assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. ResultsSystematic searches, data extraction and analysis, and writing of the systematic review are expected to be completed by the end of 2019. ConclusionsThe proposed systematic review will summarize the existing studies using digital storytelling to improve health-related outcomes for older adults. Results from this review will provide an evidence base for the development of digital storytelling interventions that are effective and implementable with older adults. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/15512

BACKGROUND: Copper (Cu), an essential trace mineral regulating multiple actions of inflammation and oxidative stress, has been implicated in risk for preterm birth (PTB). OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the association of maternal Cu concentration during pregnancy with PTB risk and gestational duration in a large multicohort study including diverse populations. METHODS: Maternal plasma or serum samples of 10,449 singleton live births were obtained from 18 geographically diverse study cohorts. Maternal Cu concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The associations of maternal Cu with PTB and gestational duration were analyzed using logistic and linear regressions for each cohort. The estimates were then combined using meta-analysis. Associations between maternal Cu and acute-phase reactants (APRs) and infection status were analyzed in 1239 samples from the Malawi cohort. RESULTS: The maternal prenatal Cu concentration in our study samples followed normal distribution with mean of 1.92 μg/mL and standard deviation of 0.43 μg/mL, and Cu concentrations increased with gestational age up to 20 wk. The random-effect meta-analysis across 18 cohorts revealed that 1 μg/mL increase in maternal Cu concentration was associated with higher risk of PTB with odds ratio of 1.30 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08, 1.57) and shorter gestational duration of 1.64 d (95% CI: 0.56, 2.73). In the Malawi cohort, higher maternal Cu concentration, concentrations of multiple APRs, and infections (malaria and HIV) were correlated and associated with greater risk of PTB and shorter gestational duration. CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports robust negative association between maternal Cu and gestational duration and positive association with risk for PTB. Cu concentration was strongly correlated with APRs and infection status suggesting its potential role in inflammation, a pathway implicated in the mechanisms of PTB. Therefore, maternal Cu could be used as potential marker of integrated inflammatory pathways during pregnancy and risk for PTB.

BackgroundSelenium (Se), an essential trace mineral, has been implicated in preterm birth (PTB). We aimed to determine the association of maternal Se concentrations during pregnancy with PTB risk and gestational duration in a large number of samples collected from diverse populations.MethodsGestational duration data and maternal plasma or serum samples of 9946 singleton live births were obtained from 17 geographically diverse study cohorts. Maternal Se concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis. The associations between maternal Se with PTB and gestational duration were analysed using logistic and linear regressions. The results were then combined using fixed-effect and random-effect meta-analysis.FindingsIn all study samples, the Se concentrations followed a normal distribution with a mean of 93.8 ng/mL (SD: 28.5 ng/mL) but varied substantially across different sites. The fixed-effect meta-analysis across the 17 cohorts showed that Se was significantly associated with PTB and gestational duration with effect size estimates of an OR=0.95 (95% CI: 0.9 to 1.00) for PTB and 0.66 days (95% CI: 0.38 to 0.94) longer gestation per 15 ng/mL increase in Se concentration. However, there was a substantial heterogeneity among study cohorts and the random-effect meta-analysis did not achieve statistical significance. The largest effect sizes were observed in UK (Liverpool) cohort, and most significant associations were observed in samples from Malawi.InterpretationWhile our study observed statistically significant associations between maternal Se concentration and PTB at some sites, this did not generalise across the entire cohort. Whether population-specific factors explain the heterogeneity of our findings warrants further investigation. Further evidence is needed to understand the biologic pathways, clinical efficacy and safety, before changes to antenatal nutritional recommendations for Se supplementation are considered.

Global student mobility has reached far beyond Europe, North America, and Australia. Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea have become the 'emerging contenders' focusing on attracting international students, primarily from other Asian countries. This heightened competition among higher education institutions (HEIs) challenges their sustainability. This study, therefore, aims to investigate Alcaide-Pulido, Alves, and Gutiérrez-Villar's university image model and its influence on students' citizenship behaviour in the context of HEIs' achieving sustainability. Data were collected from 223 international students at two reputable Malaysian universities. The results, showing that 'image' is a 'higher-order construct', extend the university image model and reveal a reformation of the 'image' variables. The findings further reveal that the extended and reformed model is capable of building satisfaction among students, which, in turn, contributes to enhancing students' citizenship behavioural outcomes (advocacy, feedback, helping behaviour, and tolerance). This can indirectly support HEIs' sustainability.

3D printing (3DP) has emerged as a disruptive manufacturing technology that benefits both the manufacturing and educational sectors. The emergence of low-cost and affordable 3D printers has facilitated the widespread use of 3DP technology, particularly in higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing countries. Despite its promising benefits, 3DP is still poorly adopted in developing countries. While research has explored the use and adoption of 3DP in education within developed nations, little research has been conducted on the integration of 3DP to capitalize on its benefits in developing countries. Therefore, in this study, we aim to investigate the perspectives of students and faculty members in higher education (HE) regarding 3DP integration in the classroom. A survey was conducted with 307 participants (272 students and 35 faculty members) at 12 Vietnamese universities where 3DP education is offered. We found that a misaligned curriculum, lack of training for faculty members, the high cost of materials and equipment, English language barriers, and limited student exposure to 3DP technology were significant obstacles to 3DP education. Several recommendations have been provided to address these challenges; for instance, faculty members and industry professionals need collaboration to ensure that the curriculum is current and that faculty members receive adequate training to teach 3DP effectively. This study provides guidelines for faculty members and policymakers to reinforce 3DP education for sustainable development in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A green synthesis method for producing zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was presented using natural Gum Arabic (GA) as a natural stabilizing agent. For the first time, the as-synthesized ZnO NPs were employed to photodegrade the toxic Congo Red (CR) dye in an aqueous solution. The structural and morphological characterizations confirmed the successful synthesis of ZnO NPs. The ZnO NPs possessed an average crystallite size of 42.7 nm. In addition, it was found that a concentration of 20 mg L−1 of CR dye yielded the most favorable photodegradation results, and 4 mg mL−1 of the photocatalyst was the optimal amount. The results showed a maximum degradation percentage of 99.5% at pH 8 after 30 min of irradiation. This indicates that the as-synthesized ZnO NPs have remarkable photocatalytic properties. Moreover, the study demonstrated the suitability of the pseudo-first-order kinetic model for representing the photodegradation process through kinetic studies of the photocatalyst process of CR dye by ZnO NPs using the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological interventions are increasingly popular methods of targeting and preventing loneliness in older adults. Research has identified various factors that influence the willingness and propensity of older adults to integrate technology into their social lives and the ways in which this may enhance their social connectedness. Given prevalence rates and negative outcomes associated with loneliness for this population, further research is warranted to clarify the mechanisms through which technological interventions may decrease loneliness. This study aimed to better understand the perspectives of older adults on the role of technology in their social relationships in later life. Four focus groups were conducted with 27 older adults, aged 65–80 years. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis, and results were validated via written participant feedback. Participants reported technology as one of many tools used to maintain their social relationships. Their choice to use technology for social interaction was influenced by their estimation of effort required, likely quality of the interaction, and the privacy and security provided. These factors were the same as those that influenced decisions to use other methods (e.g. face-to-face meetings). Based on the results, we recommend that loneliness interventions should be technology-agnostic and multifaceted, providing a wide range of tools that recognise the technological competencies of older adults and supporting different interaction types to meet the preferences of the individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]