Experimental Intervention Research Articles

Parents spontaneously scaffold the formation of conversational pacts with their children

AbstractAdults readily coordinate on temporary pacts about how to refer to things in conversation. Young children are also capable of forming pacts with peers given appropriate experimenter intervention. Here, we investigate whether parents may spontaneously provide a similar kind of scaffolding with U.S. children in a director–matcher task (N = 201, 49% female; ages 4, 6, 8). In Experiment 1, we show that parents initiate more clarification exchanges with younger children who, in turn, are more likely to adopt labels introduced by the parent. We then examine whether the benefit of such scaffolding acts primarily through childrens' difficulties with comprehension (Experiment 2) or production (Experiment 3). Our findings suggest that parents primarily scaffold pacts by easing children's production difficulties, modeling cooperative communication.

The effectiveness of multimedia mental health self-care program based on cyber space on the mental health of infertile women: a randomized controlled trial.

So far, some training interventions have been carried out to improve the mental health in women with infertility, but designing the need and evidence-based, as well as multimedia mental health self-care interventions based on cyber space has received less attention. Due to the spread of the internet and the role of self-care in improving mental disorders, this study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the multimedia mental health self-care program on mental health and to assess the users' satisfaction. This study is a randomized controlled trial with pretest-posttest follow-up design. The sample was selected using a convenience sampling method (n = 90). The random number function was used to assign random numbers. The research instruments include a demographic, psychological Well-being, depression, anxiety, perceived stress, fertility problems and satisfaction with training questionnaire. Six weeks of intervention was conducted following the pre-test and the link of each session's content was sent to the participants, based on the training schedule, through Eitaa Messenger. The post-test and follow-up were conducted 1week and 1month post intervention. The data were analyzed using independent t-test and repeated measures ANOVA. A statistically significant difference was observed between the intervention and control group in the mean score of psychological well-being, perceived stress and infertility stress 1week and 1month post intervention and in the mean score of depression and anxiety 1month post intervention. The intervention group scored higher than the control in psychological well-being but lower in perceived stress, depression, anxiety and infertility stress. The intervention had a positive effect and reduced the score of perceived stress, depression, anxiety and infertility in the intervention group over time. The score reduction continued until the follow-up stage. No significant time-interaction effect was observed on psychological well-being and on the control group. Satisfaction with the program and subscales was desirable. This program could significantly reduce the depression, anxiety, perceived stress and infertility stress and desirable satisfaction with the program was observed among users. This program can be used in designing the experimental and therapeutic interventions to improve mental-health self-care behaviors. RCT Registry: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials; RCT registration number: IRCT20210526051410N1; Registration date: 2022-11-06. Last update: 2023-01-28 https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/57874.

Effects of Video Micro Teaching Plan to Improve Archery Technique in University Students

Background and Aims: Video microteaching not only improves student learning outcomes but also optimizes the teaching process for instructors. By making effective use of video resources, teachers can dedicate more class time to individual tutoring, helping students who need more attention to overcome learning challenges. Therefore, the objectives of this research were: (1) to study the effect of a video microteaching program on the improvement of archery skills at Jilin University, and (2) to compare the effect of video a microteaching plan on improving archery technique at Jilin University. Materials and Methods: 60 students who participated in the archery course were selected from the 300 first-year students at Jilin University to complete the questionnaire survey, and 30 students were randomly selected from the 60 students to conduct the experimental research. They were divided into 15 students in the experimental group and 15 in the control group. They participated in the 8-week video teaching experiment and tested once every two weeks to compare the effect of different teaching methods. The research methods included a questionnaire survey, a focus group interview, and an experimental intervention. Mean, standard deviation, independent t-test, and dependent t-test were used to analyze the data. Results: Video instruction significantly improved students' academic performance in archery courses. After 8 weeks of intervention, the experimental group using the video teaching plan had significantly improved performance than the control group using the traditional teaching method. Conclusion: The dependent t-test results showed that video teaching helps students to better understand and replicate archery movements, reduce learning errors, and improve motor memory and skill acquisition through vivid movement demonstrations and detailed technical explanations.

The Effectiveness of Individual Intervention Based on Reality Therapy in Individuals Under Probation Due to Substance Use

ÖZET The aim of this research is to examine the effectiveness of individual intervention based on reality therapy in individuals under probation due to substance use. While conducting the research using the mixed-method approach, a single-subject experimental design was employed in the research’s quantitative dimension and employed a case study was done in its qualitative dimension. Two females and five males participated in the research. It was found that following the experimental intervention, there was a tendency for all participants to experience an increase in the levels of love/belonging, power and entertainment needs, as well as partially meeting freedom needs and increasing internal locus of control and responsibility levels.

Microwave imaging for breast cancer screening: protocol for an open, multicentric, interventional, prospective, non-randomised clinical investigation to evaluate cancer detection capabilities of MammoWave system on an asymptomatic population across multiple European countries.

Microwave imaging presents several potential advantages including its non-ionising and harmless nature. This open, multicentric, interventional, prospective, non-randomised trial aims to validate MammoWave's artificial intelligence (AI)-based classification algorithm, leveraging microwave imaging, to achieve a sensitivity exceeding 75% and a specificity exceeding 90% in breast screening. 10 000 volunteers undergoing regular mammographic breast cancer screening will be recruited across 9 European centres and invited to participate in the clinical study, involving MammoWave testing on both breasts. MammoWave results will be checked against the reference standard, to be intended as the output of conventional breast examination path (with histological confirmation of cancer cases) with 2 years follow-up. Anonymised clinical and MammoWave's results, including microwave images, associated features and a label provided by the AI-based classification algorithm, will be collected and stored in a dedicated electronic case report form. The prospective study will involve a comparative analysis between the output of the conventional breast examination path (control intervention) and the labels provided by MammoWave's AI system (experimental intervention). These labels will categorise breasts into two groups: breast With Suspicious Finding, indicating the presence of a suspicious lesion or No Suspicious Finding, indicating the absence of a lesion or the presence of a low-suspicion lesion. This trial aims to provide evidence regarding the novel MammoWave's AI system for detecting breast cancer in asymptomatic populations during screening. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Liguria Region (CET), Italy (CET-Liguria: 524/2023-DB id 13399), the Research Ethics Committee of Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo (CEIC), Spain (CEIC-1094), the National Ethics Committee for Clinical Research (CEIC), Portugal (CEIC-2311KC814), the Bioethical Committee of Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Poland (KB-006/23/2024) and the Zurich Cantonal Ethics Commission, Switzerland (BASEC 2023-D0101). The findings of this study will be disseminated through academic and scientific conferences as well as peer-reviewed journals. NCT06291896.

Utility of the PICOTS framework to assess clinical trial disruptions: monitoring the impact of COVID-19 in the Pain Management Collaboratory.

Despite careful design of clinical trials, unforeseen disruptions can arise. The PICOTS (Patient population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes, Timepoints, Setting) framework was used to assess disruptions in pain management research imposed by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) within the Pain Management Collaboratory. Rapid qualitative methods were employed to identify trial disruptions due to COVID-19 in 11 pragmatic clinical trials of nonpharmacological approaches for pain management. The PICOTS framework was applied by investigators of 4 Collaboratory trials selected to cover 4 types of trial designs (individually randomized, stepped-wedge, cluster, sequential multiple assignment randomized trial-SMART). Interviews with the lead investigators of these trials were completed, and findings were presented/discussed on video calls over a 6-month period (March-August 2021) from which themes/lessons learned were identified and consensus reached. Investigators indicated that patient populations remained generally stable. A major COVID-19 trial disruption was moving from in-person to virtual care affecting delivery of interventions/comparators and outcome assessments. The resultant mixed-mode of care delivery created issues with intervention fidelity posing analytic challenges. COVID-19 also induced ongoing/intermittent delays and other barriers to accessing primary and specialty care at some facilities, creating research capacity issues affecting delivery of experimental interventions requiring sustained, reliable participation of clinical partners. Study designs most affected by COVID-19 were stepped-wedge (intervention/comparator changing over time), cluster (increased site variability inflating intracluster correlation), and SMART (second-stage randomizations disrupted); stratified individually-randomized trials were less vulnerable because of individual-level randomization. PICOTS provides a framework for assessing the impact of trial disruptions in a structured manner. Given the COVID-19 experience, it is important for researchers to consider the potential impact of future trial disruptions during study planning.

Building Bridges in Diverse Societies: A Meta-Analysis of Field Experimental Cooperative Learning Studies on Intergroup Relations in Educational Settings

Cooperative learning has been widely utilized as an intervention to enhance intergroup relations in diverse societies, drawing on intergroup contact theory. Despite numerous field experiments testing its effectiveness in educational contexts, a comprehensive meta-analyses evaluating its overall efficacy has yet to be conducted. This meta-analysis aims to assess the magnitude of the effect of cooperative learning on promoting intergroup relations within experimental field studies conducted in educational settings. The article search was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria across ERIC, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and SpringerLink. Data analysis involved generating forest plots, conducting heterogeneity tests, calculating summary effects using a random effects model, and identifying publication bias. The meta-analysis of 18 field experimental intervention studies, involving 5265 participants, revealed that cooperative learning intervention programs positively impact intergroup relations, with a moderate effect size (ES = 0.33; 95% CI [0.25, 0.40]). Consequently, cooperative learning can be employed as an alternative strategy to bridge gaps, reduce prejudice, and improve relations among groups with diverse social identities in educational settings.

The development and testing of a single-arm feasibility and acceptability study of a whole foods diet intervention for adults with prediabetes and their offspring

BackgroundDiet is considered a first-line treatment option for prediabetes, a condition that affects 96 million United States (U.S.) adults. Diet patterns that prioritize whole foods (e.g., Mediterranean) are currently recommended to treat prediabetes. However, no studies have tested whether a U.S.-style diet pattern that prioritizes whole foods can be used to treat prediabetes. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a whole foods diet for adults with prediabetes and their offspring prior to conducting a larger clinical trial.MethodsA 2-week single-arm pre-post experimental controlled-feeding intervention of a 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans adapted whole foods diet (e.g., primarily focused on foods that have undergone limited processing or refinement) was conducted in adults (25–59 years) with prediabetes and their biological offspring (6–17 years). Families received 2 weeks of menus and grocery delivery and weekly counseling by a registered dietitian. Families were invited to attend an optional focus group session. Feasibility was based on having a ≥ 50% family completion rate with ≥ 80% completion of study outcomes. Measures included adult–child anthropometrics (weight [kg], body mass index [BMI] including BMI% and Z-scores for offspring, waist circumference [cm]) and child diet quality estimated using the 2015 Healthy Eating Index (HEI) from a single random food record. Wilcoxon signed rank was used to compare differences between baseline and 2-week anthropometrics measures and offspring total HEI scores. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis to understand factors attributed to diet adherence and acceptability.ResultsEight families enrolled (n = 8 adults, n = 12 offspring), with 7 families completing the study (12% attrition) and completing 100% of study outcome measures. Adults experienced a median weight loss of − 1.0 kg from baseline to 2 weeks (79.5 kg to 78.5 kg). Offspring had a 24-point increase in total 2015 HEI scores (median difference 50 to 74). Focus group participants (n = 4 adults) reported being satisfied with the program and expressed a willingness to continue the diet despite identified barriers.ConclusionsA whole foods diet that provides dietary support was found to be feasible and acceptable for families at risk for T2D. Future studies are needed to test the effects of the diet on prediabetes outcomes, diet quality, and diet adherence in adults and families.Trial registrationNCT05483972 at ClinicalTrials.gov. Registered July 25, 2022. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05483972?cond=prediabetes&term=whole%20foods%20&rank=1

Ramadan fasting and exercise combination therapy: A novel approach for osteoporosis prevention in ovariectomized rats.

Osteoporosis is a chronic bone metabolic disease that affects millions of people worldwide, particularly the elderly and postmenopausal women. It is characterized by weakened bones, increasing the risk of fractures and leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The goal of the current study is to examine the reported osteo-preservative effects of exercise and/or fasting in the Ramadan fasting model (RFM) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The experimental intervention started 1month following the ovariectomy procedure and consisted of five 15-min exercise sessions per week at 18-25m/min and/or an approximately 13-h fast from sunrise to sunset (6:00 AM-19:00 PM). Serum bone metabolism biomarker levels were measured, and mineral concentrations in femoral ashed bones and digested serum were determined. Additionally, serum bone alkaline phosphatase (b-ALP), parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, calcitonin, and vitamin D3 concentrations were measured using the competitive enzyme immunoassay technique. Calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus showed a notable decrease in mineral concentration among OVX rat femurs compared with the combination group (OVX + RFM + E) and control groups. In addition, homeostasis of serum concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus was observed to increase in the OVX + RFM + E group rather than in the OVX group without intervention when compared with a control group. Furthermore, fasting and exercise, either alone or concurrently with ovariectomy, induced a non-significant elevation in osteocalcin, parathyroid hormone, and vitamin D3, whereas b-ALP and calcitonin increased significantly compared with those in control rats. The combination of the Ramadan fasting model and moderate intensity exercises among OVX rats manifested advantageous effects in bone biomarkers compared with OVX rats without intervention. This could be recommended as a lifestyle modification that is protective against osteoporosis, especially in the context of depleted estrogen hormone after menopause.

Self-regulatory and metacognitive instruction regarding student conceptions: influence on students' self-efficacy and cognitive load.

Self-regulatory and metacognitive instruction regarding student conceptions can help students become metacognitively (or more specifically, metaconceptually) aware of their conceptions and self-regulate their intuitive conceptions in scientific contexts when they are not appropriate. Two approaches have been found effective in enhancing conceptual knowledge: (a) self-assessing one's conceptions and (b) acquiring conditional metaconceptual knowledge about why and in which contexts specific conceptions are appropriate or not. However, it is unclear how these approaches influence other cognitive and affective variables, such as self-efficacy and cognitive load. Nevertheless, it is essential to investigate whether making students aware of their intuitive conceptions affects their self-efficacy and to what extent reflecting on one's conceptions requires additional (meta-)cognitive resources. Thus, we conducted an experimental intervention study using a 2×2 factorial design with N = 602 upper secondary biology students. Becoming metaconceptually aware of one's (intuitive) conceptions did not lower students' self-efficacy but enabled more accurate beliefs about their abilities. However, the self-assessment increased mental load, which partly suppressed the beneficial effect of the self-assessment on conceptual knowledge. In contrast, the instruction on conditional metaconceptual knowledge did not result in higher mental load and, thus, aligned more with students' cognitive capacities. Furthermore, students with more pronounced general metaconceptual thinking reported lower mental load, implying that regular instruction focusing on metaconceptual thinking may reduce load. Thus, it is suggested to continuously promote students' metaconceptual thinking and to embed metaconceptual activities (e.g., self-assessments) repeatedly across longer instructional units.

Effects of Immersive Virtual Therapy as a Method Supporting the Psychological and Physical Well-Being of Women with a Breast Cancer Diagnosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) in the mental state and quality of sleep improvement and physical activity (PA) increase of patients diagnosed with breast cancer (BC). A total of 33 subjects divided into experimental (EG, n = 17) and control (CG, n = 16) groups were assessed with the Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (Mini-MAC), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Modified Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-M) at four time points. The experimental intervention consisted of eight VR TierOne sessions. Significant differences favoring the EG were identified in the group x time interactions for the main outcomes: destructive style of coping with the disease (p < 0.001), walking (p = 0.04), moderate (p < 0.001) and overall activity (p = 0.004), quality of sleep (p < 0.001), depressive symptoms (p < 0.001), anxiety levels (p < 0.001), aggression levels (p = 0.002), and overall HADS (p < 0.001). Trends, favoring the EG, in the constructive style of coping, sedentary behavior and intensive PA, and sleep efficiency and sleeping time were also found. A VR intervention improves general well-being in terms of the measured parameters.

Emerging Perspectives: The Interplay of Taste Perception and Oral Microbiota Composition in Dietary Preferences and Obesity.

Recent advancements in sensory research have brought to light the intricate relationship between taste perception and the oral microbiota, prompting investigations into their influence on human health, particularly in the context of dietary preferences and obesity. This review aims to update the current understanding of how oral microbiota influence taste perception and dietary choices, elucidating shared metabolic pathways between food processing and oral bacteria. Further, this review outlines the mechanisms underlying taste perception, emphasizing the role of taste receptors and taste buds in shaping sensory experiences influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Notably, we explore the bidirectional relationship between oral microbiota and taste sensitivity, highlighting the potential impact of microbial composition on taste perception thresholds and implications for dietary habits and health outcomes, such as obesity and dental caries. However, significant research gaps remain, particularly in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms linking oral microbiota with taste sensitivity, as well as the long-term effects of microbiota-targeted interventions. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and experimental interventions to explore these connections more deeply, offering insights into potential strategies for promoting healthier dietary behaviors and managing diet-related non-communicable diseases.

Natural variability and individuality of walking behavior in Drosophila.

Insects use walking behavior in a large number of contexts, such as exploration, foraging, escape and pursuit, or migration. A lot is known on how nervous systems produce this behavior in general and also how certain parameters vary with regard to walking direction or speed, for instance. An aspect that has not received much attention is if and how walking behavior varies across individuals of a particular species. To address this, we created a large corpus of kinematic walking data of many individuals of the fruit fly Drosophila. We only selected instances of straight walking in a narrow range of walking speeds to minimize the influence of high-level parameters, like turning and walking speed, aiming to uncover more subtle aspects of variability. Using high-speed videography and automated annotation we captured the positions of the six leg tips for thousands of steps and used principal components analysis to characterize the postural space individuals used during walking. Our analysis shows that the largest part of walking kinematics can be described by five principal components (PCs). Separation of these five PCs into a 2-dimensional and a 3-dimensional subspace divided the description of walking behavior into invariant features shared across individuals and features that relate to the specifics of individuals; the latter features can be regarded as idiosyncrasies. We also demonstrate that this approach can detect the effects of experimental interventions in an unbiased manner and that general aspects of individuality, such as the the individual walking posture, can be described.

Game-Based eHealth Interventions for the Reduction of Fatigue in People With Chronic Diseases: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Fatigue is a common and debilitating side effect of chronic diseases, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. While physical exercise and psychological treatments have been shown to reduce fatigue, patients often struggle with adherence to these interventions in clinical practice. Game-based eHealth interventions are believed to address adherence issues by making the intervention more accessible and engaging. This study aims to compile empirical evidence on game-based eHealth interventions for fatigue in individuals with chronic diseases and to evaluate their effectiveness in alleviating fatigue. A comprehensive literature search was performed across Embase, MEDLINE ALL, PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar in August 2021. Study characteristics and outcomes from the included studies were extracted, and a random-effects meta-analysis was conducted. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed to identify sources of heterogeneity. Of 1742 studies identified, 17 were included in the meta-analysis. These studies covered 5 different chronic diseases: multiple sclerosis (n=10), cancer (n=3), renal disease (n=2), stroke (n=1), and Parkinson disease (n=1). All but 1 study used exergaming interventions. The meta-analysis revealed a significant moderate effect size in reducing fatigue favoring the experimental interventions (standardized mean difference [SMD] -0.65, 95% CI -1.09 to -0.21, P=.003) compared with control conditions consisting of conventional care and no care. However, heterogeneity was high (I2=85.87%). Subgroup analyses were conducted for the 2 most prevalent diseases. The effect size for the multiple sclerosis subgroup showed a trend in favor of eHealth interventions (SMD -0.47, 95% CI -0.95 to 0.01, P=.05, I2=63.10%), but was not significant for the cancer group (SMD 0.61, 95% CI -0.36 to 1.58, P=.22). Balance exercises appeared particularly effective in reducing fatigue (SMD -1.19, 95% CI -1.95 to -0.42, P=.002). Game-based eHealth interventions appear effective in reducing fatigue in individuals with chronic diseases. Further research is needed to reinforce these findings and explore their impact on specific diseases. Additionally, there is a lack of investigation into interventions beyond exergaming within the field of game-based learning.

NICU Music Therapy: Lessons Learned from a Randomized Trial

Abstract Mothers of infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at risk for developing acute and posttraumatic stress disorder, but mothers’ positive coping may improve with progress in the infant’s well-being. There is a need to investigate complementary therapies that increase infant well-being and decrease maternal stress. A pacifier-activated lullaby (PAL) device is one evidence-based intervention to assist premature infants by playing a few bars of a lullaby after an effective suck, improving feeding behavior and shortening the length of NICU stay. The PAL may be personalized with lullabies sung and recorded by the neonate’s mother or other family. This study’s purpose was to quantify the effect of a PAL intervention on maternal stress symptoms. The experimental PAL intervention included a singing and recording session with a board-certified music therapist with NICU certification. This was a single-site randomized trial comparing the effect of maternal voice recording versus standard conditions. A total of 245 infant–mother dyads were screened; 18 mothers consented to participate and 12 were randomized to one of three conditions: mother’s recorded lullaby for PAL administration, a generic female voice used for the PAL, and no intervention. Barriers arising during the study included lengthy enrollment processes, maternal visitation patterns, and an overly ambitious study design. Despite attempts to mitigate perceived barriers, we did not achieve the enrollment necessary to perform the intended analysis. We, therefore, present lessons learned and possible solutions for future music therapy research in the interest of transparency, reducing publication bias, and replication of problematic design issues in future trials.

Conscious Techniques Affected the Adolescent’s Ability In Early Breast Cancer Detection

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor and grows in the breast tissue resulting in death. Breast cancer prevention by means of breast self-examination. This study aimed to determine the effect of video media on conscious techniques with a combination of demonstrations on the practical ability of adolescents in early detection of breast cancer. The method used a quasi-experimental design, non-equivalent control group design with a population of 279 and a sample of 40 respondents with inclusion criteria of young women, aged 16 years as students of SMA Negeri 1 Tarik Sidoarjo. The data collection measured skills in 2 groups of respondents. The experimental intervention group used videos and demonstrations, while the intervention control group used lectures and leaflets. The intervention was done in 1 day, the posttest was conducted 7 days after the intervention. The results showed that the average value of the pretest posttest of the two groups increased. The results of the statistical test paired T-Test obtained a significant value of p-value = (0.000 &lt; 0.05) meant that there was an effect of providing video media with conscious techniques with a combination of demonstrations on the practical ability of adolescents in early detection of breast cancer. Educators should develop programs to improve skills for early detection of breast cancer, in collaboration with health workers through health promotion so that all students are aware of health.

Assessing Student Preferences for Quantitative Methods Courses Using Discrete Choice Experiments

Understanding how students choose quantitative methods courses is important for both instructors and departments: Meeting student preferences increases motivation and engagement, enhances learning, can contribute to reducing statistics anxiety, and ensures enrollment. This article uses a discrete choice experiment to causally assess sociology students’ course preferences. In contrast to existing experimental interventions, choice experiments allow for an estimation of treatment effects prior to implementing an instructional design. Using data collected at a German university as a case study, this contribution provides insights and discusses practical implications of student preferences for quantitative methods courses. In the study, students prefer courses that use hands-on forms of assessment, follow a regular schedule, offer more credit points, and mix undergraduate and graduate students. The accompanying online material provides a step-by-step introduction to the design of discrete choice experiments, allowing a replication of the study and an implementation of the methodology in other contexts.

Changes in choroidal thickness and blood flow in response to form deprivation-induced myopia and repeated low-level red-light therapy in Guinea pigs.

To evaluate ocular refractive development, choroidal thickness (ChT) and changes in choroidal blood flow in form-deprived myopia (FDM) Guinea pigs treated with repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy. Twenty-eight 3-week-old male tricolour Guinea pigs were randomised into three groups: normal controls (NC, n = 10), form-deprived (FD, n = 10) and red light treated with form-deprivation (RLFD, n = 8). Interocular refraction and axial length (AL) changes were monitored. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) measured choroidal thickness, vessel area density, vessel skeleton density and blood flow signal intensity (flux) in the choriocapillaris and medium-large vessel layers. The experimental intervention lasted 3 weeks. At week 3, the FD group had higher myopia and longer axial length than the NC group (all p < 0.001). The RLFD group had higher hyperopia and shorter axial length than the FD group (all p < 0.001). At week 1, the NC group had a thicker choroidal thickness than the FD group (p < 0.05). At weeks 2 and 3, the RLFD group had a thicker choroidal thickness than the FD group (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, respectively). Additionally, the NC group had higher vessel area density, vessel skeleton density and flux in the choriocapillaris layer than the FD group at the three follow-up time points (all p < 0.05). At week 3, the vessel skeleton density and flux were higher in the RLFD group than in the FD group (all p < 0.05). Correlation analysis results showed that weekly changes in refraction and choroidal thickness were negatively correlated with changes in axial length (all p < 0.05). Choroidal thickness changes were positively correlated with alterations in the vessel area density, vessel skeleton density and flux in the choriocapillaris layer, as well as vessel skeleton density and flux changes in the medium-large vessel layers (all p < 0.05). Repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy retards FDM progression in Guinea pigs, potentially through increased choroidal blood flow in the choriocapillaris layer.

WITHDRAWN: Shenmai Injection Exerts the Cardioprotective Effects by Modulating Autophagy-apoptosis via Beclin-1

Background and aimDespite the excellent efficacy of anthracyclines, their clinical application is subject to cardiotoxicity. Studies have shown that Shenmai Injection(SMI) alleviated anthracycline-induced myocardial injury, however, the exact mechanism has not been clarified. Experimental procedureEach intervention was explored by detecting the viability of cardiomyocytes, LDH leakage rate, and CK levels. Finally, the effects of each intervention on autophagy-apoptosis and Beclin-1 were observed by using mCherry-EGFP-LC3B double fluorescence method, Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI), and protein immunoblotting method to explain the mechanism of Shenmai Injection. Key resultsThe viability of H9c2 cells in the model group decreased, accompanied by elevated LDH leakage rate and CK levels after doxorubicin intervention (P<0.01 or P<0.05). In contrast, SMI reversed above situation (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Besides, autophagy and apoptosis up-regulated in the model group (P<0.01), accompanied by upregulated Beclin-1, LC3-II, LC3-II/LC3-I, apoptosis effector proteins Cleaved-Caspase-9, Cleaved-Caspase-9/Caspase-9, Cleaved-Caspase-3, Cleaved-Caspase-3/Caspase-3 expressions and the downregulation of p62 protein, anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 expressions (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Nonetheless, autophagy and apoptosis were decreased with the help of SMI (P<0.01 or P<0.05). ConclusionSMI alleviated autophagy and apoptosis of damaged cardiomyocytes by regulating Beclin-1.

Empowered or informed? Seeking to mitigate gender differences in first-offer assertiveness through pre-negotiation interventions

Gender differences in negotiation behavior—for instance, men’s vs. women’s likelihood to make (assertive) first offers—contribute to the globally prevalent gender pay gap (GPG). In an attempt to mitigate the social and economic consequences of this gender disparity, we first empirically validated two pre-negotiation message interventions in a pilot study (N = 203). In the main experimental intervention study (N = 585), male versus female participants randomly received this (1) informative message about the GPG, or (2) gender-specific empowering message, or (3) no message in the control condition. In a subsequent negotiation task on the starting salary for a new job, we assessed participants’ (a) likelihood-to-initiate a first offer and (b) first-offer assertiveness. Results showed a remarkably robust behavioral gender disparity: across all conditions, men were more likely to make the first offer (d = 0.178) and made them more assertively (d = 0.339). Importantly, compared to the control condition, the informative (dinform = 0.304) and the empowering (dempower = 0.255) pre-negotiation interventions increased women’s first-offer assertiveness. Similar intervention benefits emerged for men (dinform = 0.259; dempower = 0.284), however, yielding an overall remarkably robust gender difference. To explore the underlying reasons for this gender disparity, we tested four competing psychological mechanisms (i.e., self-esteem, positive and negative affect, GPG awareness, and self-efficacy). Our results highlight the impact that even short, minimal interventions can have on gender differences in negotiation behavior and illustrate which psychological mechanisms explain the emergence of gender disparity in the first place.