Effectiveness Of Different Interventions Research Articles

Theater-Based Interventions in Social Skills in Mental Health Care and Treatment for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

This study is intended to determine, from a systematic review, the importance and effectiveness of different interventions aimed at improving social skills in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through theatrical techniques. For this purpose, a systematic review of the literature published from 2011 to 2021 in the ERIC, Web of Science, EuropePMC, PubPsych, Índices-Csic, Redalyc, Roderic, Scopus, PubMed, Scielo, and Dialnet databases was carried out, and a total of 29 articles were reviewed. The results indicate an improvement in socioemotional functioning, self-esteem, emotion management, empathy and listening, communication and social interaction, adaptive skills, as well as an increase in body awareness in people with ASD. It can be concluded that theater creates a safe environment in which people with ASD can engage with their own emotions and those of others, thereby offering a therapeutic setting in which to promote mental health in different aspects of both prevention and treatment.

An empirical study on micro, small, and medium enterprises access to finance in Kosovo: A survey based analysis

This study investigates the access to finance among Micro, Small, and Medium Entities (MSME) in Kosovo, providing an understanding of the financial landscape of this important sector. Utilizing a quantitative research design, the study administered a structured questionnaire to a representative sample of 250 MSME in Kosovo, encompassing a variety of industries and sizes. The questionnaire measured the types of financing used, perceived barriers to accessing finance, and the impacts of financial constraints on the business.Data analysis included descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and regression analysis. Findings suggest a reliance on internal funds among most MSMEs, with high-interest rates and stringent collateral requirements identified as major barriers to accessing external finance. Moreover, firm size and years of operation appeared to positively influence access to finance. The study concludes with recommendations for regulatory reforms, financial sector development, and capacity building to ease these barriers and enhance MSME growth and competitiveness.Further research is encouraged to probe the effectiveness of different interventions and delve deeper into the experiences of MSMEs in navigating their financial constraints.

Mathematical modeling and application of IL-1β/TNF signaling pathway in regulating chondrocyte apoptosis.

Introduction: Mathematical model can be used to model complex biological processes, and have shown potential in describing apoptosis in chondrocytes. Method: In order to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of TNF signaling pathway in regulating chondrocyte apoptosis, a fractional-order differential equation model is proposed to describe the dynamic behavior and mutual interaction of apoptosis-related genes under the activation of TNF signaling pathway. Compared with the traditional molecular biology techniques, the proposed mathematical modeling has advantages to providing a more comprehensive understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of TNF signaling pathway in chondrocyte apoptosis. Result: In this paper, differentially expressed genes induced by IL-1β in human chondrocyte apoptosis are screened using high-throughput sequencing. It is found that they were significantly enriched in the TNF signaling pathway. Therefore, a mathematical model of the TNF signaling pathway is built. Using real-time PCR experiments, mRNA data is measured and used to identify the model parameters, as well as the correlation coefficient. Finally, the sensitivity of the model parameters is discussed by using numerical simulation methods, which can be used to predict the effects of different interventions and explore the optimal intervention strategies for regulating chondrocyte apoptosis. Discussion: Therefore, fractional-order differential equation modeling plays an important role in understanding the regulatory mechanisms of TNF signaling pathway in chondrocyte apoptosis and its potential clinical applications.

Comparing intervention measures in a model of a disease outbreak on a university campus.

A number of theoretical models have been developed in recent years modelling epidemic spread in educational settings such as universities, often as part of efforts to inform re-opening strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these studies have had differing conclusions as to the most effective non-pharmaceutical interventions. They also largely assumed permanent acquired immunity, meaning we have less understanding of how disease dynamics will play out when immunity wanes. Here, we complement these studies by developing and analysing a general stochastic simulation model of disease spread on a university campus where we allow immunity to wane, exploring the effectiveness of different interventions. We find that the two most effective interventions to limit the severity of a disease outbreak are reducing extra-household mixing and surveillance testing backed-up by a moderate isolation period. We find that contact tracing only has a limited effect, while reducing class sizes only has much effect if extra-household mixing is already low. We identify a range of measures that can not only limit an outbreak but prevent it entirely, and also comment on the variation in measures of severity that emerge from our stochastic simulations. We hope that our model may help in designing effective strategies for universities in future disease outbreaks.

Preventing mind-wandering during driving: Predictions on potential interventions using a cognitive model

In this study, we made predictions on the effects of different interventions by adaptive automation systems designed to prevent mind-wandering while driving. Although cognitive load associated with secondary tasks tends to affect driving negatively, a simple secondary task can improve driving performance when the driving scenario is mundane. Nijboer and colleagues (2016) have hypothesized that if the driving task is simple, people might start mind-wandering, which interferes with driving. Furthermore, the authors proposed that a simple secondary task, which imposes less workload than mind-wandering, could prevent this from happening and thereby improve driving performance. Automation systems that are informed about and adapt to the cognitive state of the driver could leverage this effect by inducing mild cognitive load during mundane driving scenarios. To test suitable interventions, we combined an existing driver model with an existing model of mind-wandering implemented in the cognitive architecture ACT-R as executable theories of mind-wandering and cognitive processing in driving. Using these different models we show how mind-wandering harms driving performance at the behavioral level and that interventions eliciting mild cognitive load can mitigate this behavioral effect. However, the model indicates that some interventions incur a significant cognitive processing cost that adaptive automation systems must account for.

Effect of different interventions on the efficacy of postpartum urinary incontinence in China: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Currently, numerous treatment measures exist for postpartum stress urinary incontinence (PSUI); however, the study results are inconsistent. Computer searches of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CKNI, and Wanfang databases were conducted to search the literature on 13 different intervention modalities for PSUI from the date of establishment to January 2023 for analysis. The literature was independently screened, and the information was extracted by 2 researchers. A reticulated meta-analysis was conducted using Stata software. The findings of the reticulated meta-analysis revealed that, in terms of the effectiveness of the 13 interventions for treating PSUI from highest to lowest, the most effective was acupressure + pelvic floor muscle training (94.6%). Following this, the interventions ranked from best to worst were electroacupuncture + trans moxibustion (79.1%), pelvic floor muscle training + acupuncture (64.3%), pelvic floor muscle training + pelvic floor electrical stimulation (60.3%), biofeedback electrical stimulation + acupuncture (60.0%), pelvic floor muscle training + biofeedback electrical stimulation (59.8%), biofeedback electrical stimulation + acupuncture + herbal hot compresses (56.6%), moxibustion + pelvic floor muscle training (56.6%), pelvic floor muscle training + pelvic floor electrical stimulation + acupuncture (53.1%), biofeedback electrical stimulation + moxibustion (52.1%), pelvic floor muscle training (17.6%), biofeedback electrical stimulation (16.1%), and health coaching (0.2%). The evidence indicates that acupressure + pelvic floor muscle training may be the most effective intervention for treating PSUI occurrence. Improvement in 13 clinical indicators was observed in patients with PSUI, and significant enhancement was achieved through acupressure + pelvic floor muscle training.

What are the most effective exercise, physical activity and dietary interventions to improve body composition in women diagnosed with or at high-risk of breast cancer? A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Obesity has been recognized as a risk factor in the development and recurrence of breast cancer and is also associated with poor prognostic outcomes. This systematic review and network meta-analysis aimed to identify the most effective exercise, physical activity, and dietary interventions to reduce fat mass, body fat percentage and body weight as well as potentially increase lean mass in women diagnosed with or at high risk of breast cancer. A systematic search of databases was performed up to May 2022. Eligible randomized controlled trials examined the effects of exercise, physical activity and/or dietary interventions on fat mass and lean mass in women diagnosed with or at high risk of breast cancer. A random-effects network meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of different interventions across outcomes when sufficient studies were available. Eighty-four studies (n=6428) were included in this review. Caloric restriction and combined exercise+caloric restriction significantly reduced fat mass (range, -3.9 to -3.7kg) and body weight (range, -5.3 to -4.7kg), whereas physical activity+caloric restriction significantly reduced body fat percentage (-2.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -3.4% to -13%) and body mass index (-2.2kg × m-2 ; 95% CI, -3.0 to -1.4kg × m-2 ) in breast cancer patients. Resistance exercise was the most effective intervention to increase lean mass (0.7kg; 95% CI, 0.5-1.0kg) in breast cancer patients. Multimodal exercise and diet programs were the most effective interventions to reduce fat mass, body fat percentage, and body weight and increase and/or preserve lean mass.

Comparative Different Interventions to Improve Exercise Adherence in Patients in the Postoperative Breast Cancer Phase of Care: A Network Meta-analysis.

Global Cancer Statistics 2020 reported that breast cancer had exceeded lung cancer as the most frequently diagnosed cancer. Surgery is the primary treatment modality for breast cancer, but postoperative upper limb dysfunction often occurs; functional exercise can alleviate this and restore upper limb function. However, exercise compliance is low in postoperative breast cancer patients; thus, many studies have been conducted in recent years to improve patient compliance with exercise. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of different interventions to improve exercise adherence in postoperative breast cancer patients. We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EMBASE, Wan Fang, CNKI, VIP, and CBM databases for eligible studies. Exercise adherence rate and quality-of-life difference were assessed as outcomes. Sensitivity analysis and inconsistency detection were performed to evaluate whether the exclusion of high-risk studies affected the validity. Risk of bias was assessed using the risk-of-bias table in RevMan 5.4. Surface under the cumulative ranking was used to estimate the rankings among different interventions. Twenty-five randomized controlled trials involving 9 interventions were included, and the network meta-analysis results showed that patients in the pedometer + counseling group had the best exercise adherence. Pedometer + counseling care measures are recommended to improve exercise adherence in postoperative breast cancer patients. Oncology nurses can improve patients' exercise compliance through counseling and by giving them pedometers to wear.

Spanish version of the Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory: A validation study amongst community-dwelling older adults with chronic multimorbidity.

To psychometrically assess the Spanish version of the Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory (SC-CII-Sp) in community-dwelling older adults with chronic multimorbidity. A methodological study. A total of 1260 older adults participated in the study between May 2020 and February 2022. The data were analysed using SPSS Statistics® 26 and AMOS® 24. The items' content validity index and the Fleiss' kappa were calculated to assess the SC-CII-Sp's content validity. Convergent validity was assessed by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient between the participants' scores on the SC-CII-Sp and their scores on the Spanish Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy scale (SCD-SE). Construct validity was tested by performing a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The SC-CII-Sp's reliability was tested by computing the Cronbach's alpha. The SC-CII-Sp showed good content and convergent validity. The CFA showed that the SC-CII-Sp has three sub-scales. The 8-item Self-Care Maintenance sub-scale has good internal consistency and is comprised of two dimensions: illness-related and health-promoting behaviour. The Self-Care Monitoring sub-scale had excellent internal consistency and its five loaded items belonged to a single dimension. The 6-item Self-Care Management sub-scale has adequate internal consistency and two dimensions: autonomous and consulting behaviour. The Spanish version of SC-CII is a valid and reliable instrument to be used in the assessment of self-care behaviours amongst Spanish-speaking, community-dwelling older adults with chronic multimorbidity. Nurses need valid and reliable tools to assess self-care behaviours in Spanish-speaking community-dwelling older adults with chronic multimorbidity. This study provides a 19-item tool that allows for the comprehensive evaluation of self-care behaviours in healthy and ill states. Using the SC-CII-Sp in clinical or research settings could help nurses to examine the effects of different interventions on self-care behaviours amongst Spanish-speaking, community-dwelling older adults with chronic multimorbidity. None to be reported.

Fabrication of deformable patient-specific AAA models by material casting techniques.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a balloon-like dilatation that can be life-threatening if not treated. Fabricating patient-specific AAA models can be beneficial for in-vitro investigations of hemodynamics, as well as for pre-surgical planning and training, testing the effectiveness of different interventions, or developing new surgical procedures. The current direct additive manufacturing techniques cannot simultaneously ensure the flexibility and transparency of models required by some applications. Therefore, casting techniques are presented to overcome these limitations and make the manufactured models suitable for in-vitro hemodynamic investigations, such as particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements or medical imaging. Two complex patient-specific AAA geometries were considered, and the related 3D models were fabricated through material casting. In particular, two casting approaches, i.e. lost molds and lost core casting, were investigated and tested to manufacture the deformable AAA models. The manufactured models were acquired by magnetic resonance, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound imaging, and PIV. In particular, CT scans were segmented to generate a volumetric reconstruction for each manufactured model that was compared to a reference model to assess the accuracy of the manufacturing process. Both lost molds and lost core casting techniques were successful in the manufacturing of the models. The lost molds casting allowed a high-level surface finish in the final 3D model. In this first case, the average signed distance between the manufactured model and the reference was () mm. However, this approach was more expensive and time-consuming. On the other hand, the lost core casting was more affordable and allowed the reuse of the external molds to fabricate multiple copies of the same AAA model. In this second case, the average signed distance between the manufactured model and the reference was () mm. However, the final model's surface finish quality was poorer compared to the model obtained by lost molds casting as the sealing of the outer molds was not as firm as the other casting technique. Both lost molds and lost core casting techniques can be used for manufacturing patient-specific deformable AAA models suitable for hemodynamic investigations, including medical imaging and PIV.

Efficacy of multidisciplinary interventions in preventing metabolic syndrome and improving body composition in prostate cancer patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Exercise is known to reduce adverse side effects of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) on quality of life, bone health and fatigue for prostate cancer (PCa) patients. We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of multidisciplinary interventions on body composition and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in ADT-treated PCa patients. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted based on searches of EMBASE, MEDLINE, CENTRAL and Scopus databases from inception to March 2023. Participants included ADT-treated PCa patients who received multidisciplinary interventions including exercise, diet, nutrition, pharmacotherapy, bariatric surgery, or psychological/behavioural therapy. Primary outcomes were changes in body composition and MetS, with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as a secondary outcome. After meta-analysis, results were reported in mean difference, 95% confidence interval and p-value, with forest plots. Additionally, we conducted subgroup analyses to compare the effect of different interventions. Thirty-three articles met the eligibility criteria out of 1443 articles and 28 studies were included in meta-analysis. Of 33 studies, 17 included exercise-only interventions and 10 included exercise+diet/nutrition interventions, but no studies included diet/nutrition-only interventions. All studies employed multidisciplinary approaches in developing or delivering the interventions. Most studies (85%) had low-moderate risk of bias, thus providing good evidence to this review. Overall, interventions had a positive effect on body composition measures; lean mass (LM):0.82kg (95% CI:0.47,1.17;p<0.00001), body fat mass (BFM):-0.68kg (95% CI:-1.12,-0.24;p=0.002), fat-free mass:0.75kg (95% CI:0.14,1.37;p=0.02) and body fat percentage (BFP):-0.99% (95% CI:-1.29,-0.68;p<0.00001), as well as on MetS; waist circumference:-1.95cm (95% CI:-3.10,-0.79;p=0.0009), systolic blood pressure:-3.43mmHg (95% CI:-6.36,-0.50;p=0.02) and diastolic blood pressure:-2.48mmHg (95% CI:-4.19,-0.76;p=0.005). Subgroup-analyses showed that a combined approach including exercise+diet/nutrition was most effective in improving BFP, WC, SBP and DBP whereas exercise was more effective in improving LM and BFM. In ADT-treated PCa patients, multidisciplinary interventions, especially those combining exercise and diet/nutrition, can improve body composition and metabolic health.

A systematic review of interventions to improve medication adherence in family medicine patients

Background: Medication non-adherence poses a significant challenge in healthcare, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions in improving medication adherence. Methodology: A comprehensive search was conducted to identify relevant studies. Inclusion criteria encompassed interventions targeting medication adherence and reporting quantitative measures of adherence outcomes. The selected studies were assessed for quality, and data were extracted for analysis. Results: The review included a total of 14 studies. Interventions involving tailored phone calls or educational materials did not yield significant improvements in medication adherence. Conversely, interventions such as face-to-face counseling sessions and self-management programs showed promise in improving adherence. Nurse-led interventions and pharmacist-led consultations did not demonstrate significant improvements. Similarly, interventions involving stroke physician specialist assessments, behavioral feedback, medication reviews, and motivational interviewing did not yield significant improvements. A pooled analysis of various interventions across different healthcare settings showed a moderate but not statistically significant difference in medication adherence. Conclusion: The findings from this systematic review suggest that interventions tailored to individual patient characteristics and involving personalized support and education show promise in improving medication adherence. However, interventions relying solely on tailored phone calls, educational materials, nurse-led care, pharmacist-led consultations, stroke physician specialist assessments, behavioral feedback, medication reviews, or motivational interviewing may not consistently improve adherence. Keywords: Medication Adherence, Patient Compliance, Family Medicine, Education, Behavioral Modification.

Penile rehabilitation effectiveness after prostate cancer treatment: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Prostate cancer treatment can significantly impact erectile function, and penile rehabilitation has been proposed to improve the impacts. However, the effectiveness of penile rehabilitations after treatment of prostate cancer is scarce. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions of penile rehabilitation program after prostate cancer treatment. We conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases, PubMed and Google Scholar, to identify randomized controlled trials that evaluated interventions for penile rehabilitation after prostate cancer treatment. Studies that met our inclusion criteria were systematically reviewed, and data were synthesized and analyzed. We identified 11 randomized controlled trials that evaluated different interventions for penile rehabilitation after prostate cancer treatment. The interventions included the use of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, intracavernous injections, vacuum erection devices, and penile rehabilitation programs. The data suggest that these phosphodiesterase inhibitors, intracavernous injections, vacuum erection devices, and penile rehabilitation programs are promising in improving erectile function after prostate cancer treatment. However, the optimal timing and duration of these interventions remain unclear, and there is a need for further research to determine their long-term effectiveness and safety. Healthcare providers should consider individualized approaches to penile rehabilitation, taking into account patient characteristics and preferences.

Efficacy and safety of antidepressants for smoking cessation: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

To evaluate the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of antidepressants in helping smokers quit tobacco dependence, five databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTS ) on different antidepressant interventions involving smoking cessation in populations (September 2022). The STATA 15.1 software was used to perform network meta-analysis. The Cochrane bias risk tool was used to assess the risk of bias, and CINeMA was used to evaluate the evidence credibility for the effect of different interventions on smoking cessation. In all, 107 RCTs involving 42 744 patients were included. Seven studies were rated as having a low risk of bias. All trials reported 18 interventions and 153 pairwise comparisons were generated. The network meta-analysis showed that compared with placebo, varenicline + bupropion (OR = 3.53, 95% CI [2.34, 5.34]), selegiline + nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) (OR = 3.78, 95% CI [1.20, 11.92]), nortriptyline + NRT (OR = 2.33, 95% CI [1.21, 4.47), nortriptyline (OR = 1.58, 95% CI [1.11,2.26]), naltrexone + bupropion (OR = 3.84, 95% CI [1.39, 10.61]), bupropion + NRT (OR = 2.29, 95% CI [1.87, 2.81]) and bupropion (OR = 1.70, 95% CI [1.53, 1.89]) showed benefits with respect to smoking cessation. In addition, bupropion + NRT showed better effects than bupropion (OR = 1.35, 95% CI [1.12, 1.64]) and NRT (OR = 1.38, 95% CI [1.13, 1.69]) alone. The final cumulative ranking curve showed that varenicline + bupropion was the most likely to be the best intervention. There was moderate- to very-low-certainty evidence that most interventions showed benefits for smoking cessation compared with placebo, including monotherapy and combination therapies. Varenicline + bupropion had a higher probability of being the best intervention for smoking cessation.

Comparative Different Interventions to Improve Medication Adherence in Patients with Hypertension: A Network Meta-analysis.

Hypertension has become a major public problem. One of every 4 adults has hypertension. Medications are critical in controlling blood pressure, but patient medication adherence is low. Therefore, it is very crucial to promote medication adherence. However, the complexity and variety of interventions cause clinical decision-making difficulties for health managers and patients. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of different interventions to improve medication adherence in patients with hypertension. We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EMBASE, Wan Fang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and China Biology Medicine disc databases for eligible studies. Medication adherence rate and medication adherence difference were assessed as outcomes. Sensitivity analysis and inconsistency detection were performed to evaluate whether the exclusion of high-risk studies affected the validity. The risk of bias was assessed using the risk of bias table in Review Manager 5.4. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve was used to estimate the rankings among different interventions. Twenty-seven randomized controlled trials were included, and the interventions involved were categorized into 8 different categories. The network meta-analysis showed that the health intervention was the best to promote medication compliance in patients with hypertension. Health intervention is recommended to improve medication adherence in patients with hypertension. Health managers are recommended to provide health intervention to patients with hypertension to improve their medication adherence. This approach reduces morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs for patients with cardiovascular disease.

Balance and gait in progressive supranuclear palsy: a narrative review of objective metrics and exercise interventions.

The use of objective gait and balance metrics is rapidly expanding for evaluation of atypical parkinsonism, and these measures add to clinical observations. Evidence for rehabilitation interventions to improve objective measures of balance and gait in atypical parkinsonism is needed. Our aim is to review, with a narrative approach, current evidence on objective metrics for gait and balance and exercise interventions in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Literature searches were conducted in four computerized databases from the earliest record up to April 2023: PubMed, ISI's Web of Knowledge, Cochrane's Library, and Embase. Data were extracted for study type (cross-sectional, longitudinal, and rehabilitation interventions), study design (e.g., experimental design and case series), sample characteristics, and gait and balance measurements. Eighteen gait and balance (16 cross-sectional and 4 longitudinal) and 14 rehabilitation intervention studies were included. Cross-sectional studies showed that people with PSP have impairments in gait initiation and steady-state gait using wearable sensors, and in static and dynamic balance assessed by posturography when compared to Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthy controls. Two longitudinal studies observed that wearable sensors can serve as objective measures of PSP progression, using relevant variables of change in turn velocity, stride length variability, toe off angle, cadence, and cycle duration. Rehabilitation studies investigated the effect of different interventions (e.g., balance training, body-weight supported treadmill gait, sensorimotor training, and cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation) on gait, clinical balance, and static and dynamic balance assessed by posturography measurements. No rehabilitation study in PSP used wearable sensors to evaluate gait and balance impairments. Although clinical balance was assessed in 6 rehabilitation studies, 3 of these studies used a quasi-experimental design, 2 used a case series, only 1 study used an experimental design, and sample sizes were relatively small. Wearable sensors to quantify balance and gait impairments are emerging as a means of documenting progression of PSP. Robust evidence for improving balance and gait in PSP was not found for rehabilitation studies. Future powered, prospective and robust clinical trials are needed to investigate the effects of rehabilitation interventions on objective gait and balance outcomes in people with PSP.

Analyzing the number of articles with network meta-analyses using chord diagrams and temporal heatmaps over the past 10 years: Bibliometric analysis.

Network meta-analyses (NMAs) are statistical techniques used to synthesize data from multiple studies and compare the effectiveness of different interventions for a particular disease or condition. They have gained popularity in recent years as a tool for evidence-based decision making in healthcare. Whether publications in NMAs have an increasing trend is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the trends in the number of NMA articles over the past 10 years when compared to non-NMA articles. The study utilized data from the Web of Science database, specifically searching for articles containing the term "meta-analysis" published between 2013 and 2022. The analysis examined the annual number of articles, as well as the countries, institutions, departments, and authors associated with the articles and the journals in which they were published. Ten different visualization techniques, including line charts, choropleth maps, chord diagrams, circle packing charts, forest plots, temporal heatmaps, impact beam plots, pyramid plots, 4-quadrant radar plots, and scatter plots, were employed to support the hypothesis that the number of NMA-related articles has increased (or declined) over the past decade when compared to non-NMA articles. Our findings indicate that there was no difference in mean citations or publication trends between NMA and non-NMA; the United States, McMaster University (Canada), medical schools, Dan Jackson from the United Kingdom, and the Journal of Medicine (Baltimore) were among the leading entities; NMA ranked highest on the coword analysis, followed by heterogeneity, quality, and protocol, with weighted centrality degrees of 32.51, 30.84, 29.43, and 24.26, respectively; and the number of NMA-related articles had increased prior to 2020 but experienced a decline in the past 3 years, potentially due to being overshadowed by the intense academic focus on COVID-19. It is evident that the number of NMA articles increased rapidly between 2013 and 2019 before leveling off in the years following. For researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals who are interested in evidence-based decision making, the visualizations used in this study may be useful.

Differential effects of bariatric surgery and caloric restriction on hepatic one-carbon and fatty acid metabolism

Weight loss interventions, including dietary changes, pharmacotherapy, or bariatric surgery, prevent many of the adverse consequences of obesity, and may also confer intervention-specific benefits beyond those seen with decreased weight alone. We compared the molecular effects of different interventions on liver metabolism to understand the mechanisms underlying these benefits. Male rats on a high-fat, high-sucrose diet underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or intermittent fasting with caloric restriction (IF-CR), achieving equivalent weight loss. The interventions were compared to ad-libitum (AL)-fed controls. Analysis of liver and blood metabolome and transcriptome revealed distinct and sometimes contrasting metabolic effects between the two interventions. SG primarily influenced one-carbon metabolic pathways, whereas IF-CR increased de novo lipogenesis and glycogen storage. These findings suggest that the unique metabolic pathways affected by SG and IF-CR contribute to their distinct clinical benefits, with bariatric surgery potentially influencing long-lasting changes through its effect on one-carbon metabolism.

Exploring the effects of different interventions of the problem-oriented teaching model on students’ creativity in STEM education

ABSTRACT Background Creativity is one of the key competencies for the talent of the 21st century to meet future challenges in a complex world. It is also an innovative basis for students to discover and pose questions. Purpose This study aimed to explore which two interventions of the problem-oriented teaching model, teacher-guided problem finding (TGPF) and teacher-directed question posing (TDQP), was more effective in terms of improving students’ creativity in STEM education. Sample A total of 60 seventh-grade students participated in this study. Design and methods The TGPF group included 30 students who adopted the problem-finding method in which the teacher guided them to find problems, while another 30 students in the TDQP group adopted the method in which the teacher directly posed the questions. The Williams Creativity Aptitude Test (WCAT) was used to test the pre- and post-creativity of the two groups. Paired samples t tests were used to verify whether the two interventions of the problem-oriented teaching model could enhance students’ creativity, and independent samples t tests were used to verify the differences between the two interventions of the problem-oriented teaching model in the enhancement of creativity. Results The results indicated that both TGPF and TDQP can improve students’ creativity. Compared with the TDQP group, the TGPF group’s students could better improve their creativity, especially in the dimensions of adventure, imagination, and challenge. Conclusion This study provides references for teachers to use different problem-oriented teaching interventions in STEM education. Teachers should break from the previous approach of direct problem posing to the creation of situations and other methods to guide students to actively think of and discover problems, so as to better improve students’ creativity.

Planning for fear of crime reduction: Assessing the impact of public space regeneration on safety perceptions in deprived neighborhoods

Fear of crime significantly reduces people’s time–space access to and use of public space, notably in high-crime neighborhoods where concerns around personal safety are more acute. One widely used strategy to reduce fear of crime is the regeneration of the built environment. However, tension remains on whether this strategy is effective, and if it is, then where, which and for whom public space interventions work. This research, incorporating a gender perspective, assesses whether neighborhood-level regeneration of public space significantly enhances or reduces residents’ perceptions of safety in deprived urban areas with a gender perspective. To test these impacts, we run a randomized control trial with 100 residents in a high-crime neighborhood in Santiago de Chile. A series of geotagged photographs of the area and ten treatment photo simulations of proposed interventions were rated by residents according to their perceived safety related to crime. The results suggest that: highly unsafe perceptions cluster in specific neighborhood locations and are particularly acute for women; the regeneration of public spaces significantly increases perceived safety for both men and women; and the effectiveness of different interventions is gender-specific. The results suggest, while an effective technique, public space regeneration in deprived neighborhoods can be further optimized through urban design and planning policy that are space- and gender-specific. The technique presented could support researchers and practitioners to understand the spatial distribution of perceptions of safety, to select effective interventions to make deprived neighborhoods feel safer, and to assess the impact of regeneration strategies.