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Introduction: Hyperpigmentation disorders are very frequent, affect the quality of life and may become a psychological burden for afflicted patients. Many anti‐pigmenting or depigmenting agents are available with various efficacy and almost no comparative data. 2‐mercaptonicotinoyl glycine (2‐MNG) was recently proposed as a viable candidate showing safe and effective results on hyperpigmentation control in vitro and in vivo. Objectives: A Bayesian network meta‐analysis (BNMA) was conducted to map and rank the anti‐pigmenting and depigmenting efficacy of 2‐MNG 0.5% on UV daylight (UVDL)‐induced pigmentation together with 13 other reference molecules. A comparison in the kinetics of 2‐MNG 0.5% was also performed. Methodology: Fourteen studies were conducted, for each, on 15–30 women of skin phototype III in Shanghai, China and Paris, France. The products were applied on mini zone, in randomized and blinded protocol, on the back, 5 days a week during 6 weeks, at a dose of 4 mg/cm2. During the second week, volunteers were exposed under to varying minimum erythemal dose of UVDL during 4 consecutive days—adapted to obtain a similar induction of skin pigmentation regardless of the population. Assessments were performed instrumentally using Chromameter®. Ascorbic acid 7% was used as a positive control for all experiments. A Bayesian network meta‐analysis was then established to map and follow the kinetics of 2‐MNG 0.5% performance with 13 reference molecules (glutathione 2%, kojic acid 1%, hydroquinone 4%, ascorbyl glucoside 2%, niacinamide 4%, etc.). Results: 2‐MNG 0.5% dominated the ranking at all time points with a significant high probability of strong efficacy against UVDL‐induced pigmentation. Ascorbic acid 7% ranks second after 4 days of irradiations (D12) whereas hydroquinone 4% ranks second 1 month after irradiations (D40). In the kinetics, 2‐MNG at 0.5% was effective as from the end of irradiations (D12) to the study endpoint (D40). This suggested an immediate and persistent efficacy across all timepoints evaluated. Conclusion: The BNMA revealed a rapid and lasting efficacy of 2‐MNG 0.5% on the anti‐pigmenting and depigmenting phases of the clinical protocol. 2‐MNG 0.5% ranked first, with immediate and lasting effect compared to 13 other references. This study is the first allowing comparison between reference anti‐pigmenting and depigmenting agents and will help clinicians for proposing the most effective approach for their patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explored the influence of unemployment perceptions on attitudes towards an EU‐wide social policy that guarantees a minimum standard of living for the poor across 18 European countries. The article relied on a theoretical framework that highlights the interaction among economic self‐interest, ideology, and perceptions. Using data from Eurostat and the European Social Survey, the results show that Europeans with more negative perceptions of national unemployment or the living conditions of the unemployed were more likely to support an EU minimum income scheme. This association was particularly strong among individuals with non‐egalitarian values or right‐leaning ideology and remained relatively consistent across different national contexts. Additionally, support was stronger in countries with poor economic and welfare conditions. Overall, the findings reveal a high perceived legitimacy among Europeans for implementing a policy measure that aims to tackle poverty in the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Living a happy life is an essential issue for old adults. However, how eating with others contributes to happiness and whether this association is different by living arrangements or not is unknown. The current study examined the relationship between the frequency of eating with others and happiness among older adults according to their living arrangements using 3‐year longitudinal data. Methods: The analyzed sample comprised 18,727 people (10,920 males and 7807 females) with low happiness (0–7 points on score of 0–10 points) from Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) in 2016. Our exposure was the frequency of eating with others: rarely, a few times a year, a few times a month, and a few times a week or more. We performed Modified Poisson Regression to examine the association between the frequency of eating with others and high happiness (8–10 points) in 2019 stratified by living arrangement (living alone/with others). Results: A total of 4352 (23.2%) people showed high happiness in 2019. After adjusting for age, sex, marital status, education, household income, social participation, illnesses under treatment, and depressive symptoms in 2016, the cumulative incidence ratio (CIR) for high happiness in 2019 among people living alone was more significant, that is, 1.28 (95% confidence intervals: 0.88–1.87), 1.50 (1.05–2.14), and 1.82 (1.26–2.63), than 1.28 (1.11–1.48), 1.30 (1.12–1.50), and 1.33 (1.16–1.52) among people living with others for those who ate with others a few times a year, a few times a month, and a few times a week or more compared to those who rarely ate with others, respectively. The interaction between the frequency of eating with others and living arrangements was statistically significant. The trend test showed that higher frequency of eating with others was significantly associated with high happiness. Conclusions: Eating with others was associated with improved happiness among older adults, with such an association being stronger among people living alone. Key points: Eating with others may improve happiness levels for older adults with low happiness.Eating with others more frequently was associated with improved happiness.This association was stronger among people living alone.Depressive symptoms may partially explain this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene has been shown to act as an efficient sieve for hydrogen isotope separation since the perfect monolayer graphene is impermeable to almost all atoms and molecules but permeable to protons. Large-area graphene films can be produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and exhibit a considerably high proton–deuteron separation factor of ∼8. However, the performance of the graphene-based membrane is often limited by the presence of cracks and imperfections introduced mainly during the transfer process. Here, we report a simple but effective method to transfer large-area CVD graphene onto commercial Nafion membranes with the aid of palladium thin films and thus fabricate the Pd/Graphene/Nafion composite membranes, which allow a proton–deuteron separation factor up to ∼10. This transfer method avoids the mechanical damage of graphene caused by deformation of the Nafion membrane. There is no need to remove the palladium thin film, and it will act as a catalyst for the reduction of hydrons during electrochemical pumping. The large-area transfer of graphene and fabrication of composite membranes for efficient separation of hydrogen isotopes will promote the development of graphene-based separation technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

History is an important but often overlooked content area for all students in this current era of accountability. Yet instruction in history can help students become problem solvers and learn to make interpretations from multiple perspectives. This article reports the results of a pilot study examining history learning across three groups of students (i.e., students with disabilities, students without disabilities, and students enrolled in an honors class) as they studied history (a unit on Andrew Jackson) through a Web-based history learning environment--the Virtual History Museum. The results indicate students in all three ability groups made gains from pretest to posttest in factual knowledge and reasoning about key concepts of the unit. The results provide preliminary support that a Web-based learning environment that includes features to assist students with mild disabilities can improve learning for all students at about the same rate. (Contains 3 tables.)

This study examined the professional development opportunities that about eighty mathematics teachers of junior high schools were provided with in the national curriculum reform of China and explored how their beliefs in mathematics instruction and instructional practice were affected by the professional development opportunities available to them. A questionnaire was administered to collect data. The results showed that the length of time the participants spent on attending school-based learning activities had a significant effect on their attitudes toward the effectiveness of the professional development and on their instructional practice. The content of the training programs that focused on studying textbooks and observing and reflecting upon model lessons was highly correlated to the implementation of conventional mathematics instruction. Another factor that related to the implementation of conventional mathematics instruction was the collegial support the teachers received at their schools. (Contains 8 notes and 4 tables.)

Objective Methods Results Conclusion The objective of this study is to assess the correspondence, in live conditions, between clinical gradings of facial aging signs by three dermatologists and those afforded by an automatic AI‐based algorithm that analyses smartphones' selfie images of Chinese subjects.In total, 125 Chinese subjects of both genders, aged 18–62y, took a selfie using their own smartphones and were immediately viewed by three dermatologists. The latter graded the severity of 15 facial signs in women and 9 in men, using the standardized values afforded by a Skin Aging Atlas referential dedicated to Asian skin. The data issued by both methodologies were then statistically compared.The absolute gradings of the automatic system were found highly correlated with clinical assessments, with lower values in most cases. In women, large differences in absolute values were found on the gradings for size of isolated spot, cheek fold, spread macules, and texture of mouth contour women. Analysis of the Mean Absolute Errors (M.A.E) revealed that these rarely exceed 0.6 grading units in women and to a lesser extent in men.The present study confirmed the value of the automatic system towards an extended use towards large human cohorts as a surrogate of clinical evaluations and allowed to detect the points where improvements must be brought to the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]