Longitudinal Experimental Study Research Articles

Believing in an Enticing World: Testing a Positive Psychological Intervention Aimed at Increasing Character Strengths and Well-Being via World Beliefs

The Enticing world belief factor—encompassing beliefs that the world is interesting, beautiful, abundant, and worth exploring—has been hypothesized to promote subjective well-being and several character strengths (e.g., curiosity). The present pre-registered longitudinal-experimental study tests a 9-day intervention aiming to increase Enticing world belief in 247 high school and university students (aged 14–35). Results show that the intervention increased Enticing world belief from pre to post. However, these changes did not persist at a 2-week follow-up. Although we did not find the predicted positive total effects of the intervention on optimism, life satisfaction, well-being, curiosity or love of learning from pre to post, we did find positive indirect effects on all of these variables via changes in Enticing world belief. We discuss inferential limitations regarding the observed effects as well as possible reasons for the lack of positive total effects on well-being measures and character strengths.

Employee risk recognition and reporting of malicious elicitations: longitudinal improvement with new skills-based training.

Numerous security domains would benefit from improved employee risk recognition and reporting through effective security training. This study assesses the effectiveness of a new skills-based training approach to improve risk recognition and reporting of malicious elicitations. Malicious elicitations are techniques that strategically use conversation (i.e., online, in writing, in person, or over the phone) with the sole purpose of collecting sensitive, non-publicly available information about business operations, people, or technological assets without raising suspicion. To an untrained observer, a skilled elicitor can make conversations seem analogous to many professional networking situations such as those experienced over email and at conferences. A 12-month longitudinal experimental study was conducted to test training effectiveness on employees of a large corporation that focuses on serving national security needs and the public interest. Half of participants were randomly assigned to receive traditional awareness-based training (i.e., reviewing informational slides) while the other half of participants received a new skills-based training that allowed them-over the course of five weeks-to iteratively practice skills learned in the training and receive feedback on their performance in their day-to-day work environment. Following training for both experimental groups, malicious elicitations and benign professional networking test messages were sent (via email & text message) to unaware employee participants for 12 months. Findings revealed that skills-based training improved reporting of malicious elicitations and lasted for up to 12 months compared to traditional awareness-based training.

Effects of zinc and resveratrol as modulators of leptin response in adults with obesity

fat tissue is an organ with endocrine function, where the hormone leptin (LEP) is identified. This peptide regulates appetite, the immune system, vascular functions and insulin sensitivity. Zinc (Zn) and resveratrol (RES) have potential effects on adipose tissue. to know if the combined administration of Zn and RES has any effect on blood leptin quantification in obese people. longitudinal experimental study, controlled clinical trial design, randomized, double blind. Randomized formation of four groups: T1 (Zn 50 mg), T2 (control), T3 (RES 500 mg), T4 (Zn 50 mg and RES 500 mg) with a supplementation period of 60 days. Blood samples were taken and glucose (GLU), leptin (LEP) and lipids (HDL, LDL, TGL) were quantified before and after exposure to the study elements. age 34 (± 7) years. In T-tests, significance in GLU (p = 0.04) and LEP (p = 0.055). By exposure groups: GLU at T1 (p = 0.03) and T2 (p = 0.031); at LEP at T4 (p = 0.024). Lipids by groups: HDL at T3 (p = 0.039) and T4 (p = 0.014). ANOVA, HDL (p = 0.06). Pearson, HDL (p = 0.07) and LDL (p = 0.09). zinc and resveratrol showed promise as agents in modulating leptin and glucose signaling, confirming that they work in a proportional manner and provide benefits for cardiac health, but more exposure time is needed to see if they impact energy balance homeostasis.

The Impact of a Nutritional Intervention on Glycemic Control and Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Type 2 Diabetes.

Nutritional management plays a crucial role in treating patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), working to prevent and control the progression of chronic non-communicable diseases. To evaluate the effects of individualized nutritional interventions on weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TGs), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR)} over 12 months and subsequently at follow-up (15 months). This longitudinal experimental study (without randomization and blinding) enrolled 84 sedentary participants with T2D (both sexes, aged 18-80 years). They were divided into a control group of 40 participants who received only medical consultations, and an intervention group of 44 participants who received the same medical care along with a nutritional assessment. Consultations occurred quarterly from August 2020 to November 2022 (first-twelfth month), with six to nine patients per session. Subsequently, a follow-up was conducted from December 2022 to November 2023, during which the intervention group had only medical care (during the 12th-15th months). Personalized dietary planning was inspired by the Mediterranean/DASH diets adapted to Brazilian foods and socioeconomic cultures. Normal variables were compared between groups for each time point and also within each group across different time points using a two-way ANOVA (repeated measures for intragroup) followed by the Šídák post hoc test. Non-normal variables were compared between groups for each time point using Kruskal-Wallis followed by the Dunn post hoc test, and within each group across different time points using Friedman followed by the Dunn post hoc test. Data with a Gaussian distribution were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD), and data with a non-Gaussian distribution were presented as median ± interquartile range (IQR). For all cases, α < 0.05 and p < 0.05 were adopted. In the intervention group, significant reductions were observed between the first and twelfth month for all parameters (p < 0.05), (except for TC), along with an increase in HDL-C (p = 0.0105). Conversely, in the control group, there was a significant increase in HbA1c, weight, BMI, FBG, and WHR (p < 0.05) between the first and twelfth months. Regarding the comparison between groups, there was a significant difference for all analyzed parameters (p < 0.05) from the first to the twelfth month. In the follow-up, differences were also observed (p < 0.05), except for BMI (p > 0.05). The individualized nutritional intervention improved eating habits, anthropometric, biochemical, and cardiovascular markers in T2D over 12 months, with sustained results during follow-up. The dietary plan inspired by the Mediterranean and DASH diets demonstrated good adaptation to the Brazilian food culture and the patients' socioeconomic contexts. Consistent monitoring and personalized nutritional management are essential for optimizing long-term outcomes. However, more clinical trials are necessary in order to optimize the level of evidence for longitudinal interventions.

Tensile Strength and Elastic Modulus of Gutta-percha Cones Disinfected with Sodium Hypochlorite at Different Immersion Times: An In Vitro Comparative Study.

The tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of gutta-percha cones can be chemically altered due to disinfectant solutions. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare tensile strength and elastic modulus of gutta-percha cones subjected to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) disinfection at different times. This in vitro and longitudinal experimental study consisted of 45 gutta-percha cones, divided equally into three groups: Group 1 (disinfection with 2.5% NaOCl), Group 2 (disinfection with 5.25% NaOCl), and control group. All groups were subdivided according to immersion times for 1, 5, and 10 minutes. Tensile strength and elastic modulus were measured with a universal testing machine. For comparing more than two independent groups, parametric analysis of variance test with Sheffe's post hoc was used and for multivariate analysis, and multivariate analysis of variance test based on Pillai's Trace was used. In all statistical analysis, a significance level P ≤ 0.05 was considered. When comparing the tensile strength of gutta-percha cones, no significant differences were observed after being immersed at 1, 5, and 10 minutes in NaOCl 2.5% (P = 0.715) and 5.25% (P = 0.585). Regarding the elastic modulus, a significant decrease (P < 0.05) was observed in those that were immersed in NaOCl 2.5% and 5.25% for 1, 5, and 10 minutes. Furthermore, increased NaOCl concentration significantly reduced the elastic modulus (P < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in tensile strength (P > 0.05) and elastic modulus (P > 0.05), when evaluating the interaction between NaOCl concentration and time. Increasing NaOCl concentration significantly reduced the modulus of elasticity without affecting the tensile strength of gutta-percha cones, regardless of immersion time. Furthermore, the interaction of time and NaOCl concentration did not significantly affect the tensile strength and elastic modulus.

The slow emergence of gaze- and point-following: A longitudinal study of infants from 4 to 12 months.

Acquisition of visual attention-following skills, notably gaze- and point-following, contributes to infants' ability to share attention with caregivers, which in turn contributes to social learning and communication. However, the development of gaze- and point-following in the first 18 months remains controversial, in part because of different testing protocols and standards. To address this, we longitudinally tested N=43 low-risk, North American middle-class infants' tendency to follow gaze direction, pointing gestures, and gaze-and-point combinations. Infants were tested monthly from 4 to 12 months of age. To control motivational differences, infants were taught to expect contingent reward videos in the target locations. No-cue trials were included to estimate spontaneous target fixation rates. A comparison sample (N=23) was tested at 9 and 12 months to estimate practice effects. Results showed gradual increases in both gaze- and point-following starting around 7 months, and modest month-to-month individual stability from 8 to 12 months. However, attention-following did not exceed chance levels until after 6 months. Infants rarely followed cues to locations behind them, even at 12 months. Infants followed combined gaze-and-point cues more than gaze alone, and followed points at intermediate levels (not reliably different from the other cues). The comparison group's results showed that practice effects did not explain the age-related increase in attention-following. The results corroborate and extend previous findings that North American middle-class infants' attention-following in controlled laboratory settings increases slowly and incrementally between 6 and 12 months of age. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: A longitudinal experimental study documented the emergence and developmental trajectories of North American middle-class infants' visual attention-following skills, including gaze-following, point-following, and gaze-and-point-following. A new paradigm controlled for factors including motivation, attentiveness, and visual-search baserates. Motor development was ruled out as a predictor or limiter of the emergence of attention-following. Infants did not follow attention reliably until after 6 months, and following increased slowly from 7 to 12 months. Infants' individual trajectories showed modest month-to-month stability from 8 to 12 months of age.

Investigation of Ukrainian refugees' eating behavior, food intake, and psychological distress: Study protocol and baseline data.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, almost 8 million people left the country; more than 1 million of them relocated to Germany. It is to be expected that the war puts considerable strain on refugees, which will impact the public health system in host countries. This paper presents baseline data and protocol of longitudinal online experimental study of 619 Ukrainian refugees in Germany started in autumn 2022, focusing on participants' self-reports of appetite, food intake, and levels of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms to examine their associations. Results indicate that levels of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in refugees significantly exceed the indicators of relevant parameters as reported by independent large-scale surveys conducted in Ukraine before the war as well as strong correlations between these deviations (.59 ≤ r ≤ .69, p = .005). Changes in appetite were related to more severe psycho-emotional deviations (.15 ≤ r ≤ .19, p = .003) and somewhat unhealthier food intake (r = -.08, p < .001). The study underlines the need of psychological care for refugees to improve their mental health and counteract potential negative consequences for physical health via changes in food intake, for which suitable interventions need to be developed.

Home-based oral health program for adults with intellectual disabilities: An intervention study

BackgroundPoor oral health is common in adults with intellectual disabilities leading to risk of mouth and lung infections. Yet, little is known about the benefits of preventative oral health programs. Objective/hypothesisThis prospective longitudinal experimental mixed methods study evaluated the efficacy of an oral health program aimed at improving knowledge and behaviours in adults with intellectual disabilities living in supported housing. MethodsA 90-min training session was provided to residents and their staff at 12 houses (56 residents; 67 staff). Follow-up training sessions (at 1 week, 1,2,3 months) were tailored to the learning abilities, behavioural/physical challenges, and independence of residents. Outcome measures were collected pre, 1, 2 and 3 months (n = 36): dental exam, plaque index, gingival signs, tongue coating index and behavioural rating scale. At 3 months, support workers (n = 10) and residents (n = 19) were interviewed. Residents’ interviews were supported by Talking Mats®. ResultsMost residents (94%) required support for oral cares; with 63% fully dependant on their support workers. 24 (63%) residents had significantly improved plaque scores at 3 months (p < .001). Resident interviews were restricted by communication competency but supported interviews indicated positive responses to 3-sided toothbrush 91%, interdental brush/flosser 60%, and mouthwash 100%. Support worker interviews revealed perceived health and social benefits including fresher breath and benefits of routines. ConclusionsOral health programs for adults with intellectual disabilities living in supported housing are well received by staff and residents, leading to changes in oral care routines and measurable changes in oral health.

Relationship between body composition and upper limb physical fitness among Chinese students: 4-Year longitudinal follow-up and experimental study.

Background: Recently, students' fitness has been declining, and high physical fitness level is crucial in establishing optimal physical/mental health and academic performance. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between body composition and upper limb physical fitness and the specific aspects of low physical fitness level in Chinese students. Exploring the development and impact factors for upper limb physical fitness can provide a theoretical basis for the health management strategy of students. Methods: Study 1 collected data from 183 male students over 4 years and used Hierarchical Linear Model (HLM) to explore the quadratic predictive role of body composition on upper limb physical fitness. To further explored which aspects of upper limb physical fitness were affected by body composition, study 2 conducted an experimental investigation among 42 male students, comparing different kinds of upper limb physical fitness within two different body composition groups. Results: Studies found (1) from 2015 to 2018, students' Body-Mass-Index (BMI) showed an upward trend, and BMI differences were significant from year to year. While the upper limb physical fitness showed a downward trend. There were significant differences in the number of pull-outs between 2015 and 2016, 2015 and 2017, and 2015 and 2018. (2) The quadratic term of BMI could predict the upper body physical fitness in the same year and the following year. That is, when BMI was medium, the upper body fitness of the same year and the following year was the best. (3) Chinese students with excellent body composition had greater grip strength, drape height and anaerobic power than those with average body composition. Conclusion: In recent years, male students' BMI has been increasing, and the upper body physical fitness has been decreasing. Furthermore, body composition can predict the upper body mass in the same year and the second year, and male students with better body composition also had greater grip strength, drape height and anaerobic power in their upper limbs.

Longitudinal study of the short- and long-term effects of hospitalisation and oral trimethoprim-sulfadiazine administration on the equine faecal microbiome and resistome

BackgroundHospitalisation and antimicrobial treatment are common in horses and significantly impact the intestinal microbiota. Antimicrobial treatment might also increase levels of resistant bacteria in faeces, which could spread to other ecological compartments, such as the environment, other animals and humans. In this study, we aimed to characterise the short- and long-term effects of transportation, hospitalisation and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (TMS) administration on the faecal microbiota and resistome of healthy equids.MethodsIn a longitudinal experimental study design, in which the ponies served as their own control, faecal samples were collected from six healthy Welsh ponies at the farm (D0–D13-1), immediately following transportation to the hospital (D13-2), during 7 days of hospitalisation without treatment (D14–D21), during 5 days of oral TMS treatment (D22–D26) and after discharge from the hospital up to 6 months later (D27–D211). After DNA extraction, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed on all samples. For resistome analysis, shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed on selected samples.ResultsHospitalisation without antimicrobial treatment did not significantly affect microbiota composition. Oral TMS treatment reduced alpha-diversity significantly. Kiritimatiellaeota, Fibrobacteres and Verrucomicrobia significantly decreased in relative abundance, whereas Firmicutes increased. The faecal microbiota composition gradually recovered after discontinuation of TMS treatment and discharge from the hospital and, after 2 weeks, was more similar to pre-treatment composition than to composition during TMS treatment. Six months later, however, microbiota composition still differed significantly from that at the start of the study and Spirochaetes and Verrucomicrobia were less abundant. TMS administration led to a significant (up to 32-fold) and rapid increase in the relative abundance of resistance genes sul2, tetQ, ant6-1a, and aph(3”)-lb. lnuC significantly decreased directly after treatment. Resistance genes sul2 (15-fold) and tetQ (six-fold) remained significantly increased 6 months later.ConclusionsOral treatment with TMS has a rapid and long-lasting effect on faecal microbiota composition and resistome, making the equine hindgut a reservoir and potential source of resistant bacteria posing a risk to animal and human health through transmission. These findings support the judicious use of antimicrobials to minimise long-term faecal presence, excretion and the spread of antimicrobial resistance in the environment.-NEQ1286BccpFJdhcRCuNyVideo

The social and economic impact of the Montreal Longitudinal and Experimental Study.

The effectiveness of early prevention programmes and their viability as a public policy option have increasingly caught the attention of scholars and policymakers. Given the implementation costs of such programmes, it is important to assess whether they achieved anticipated objectives and whether they made efficient use of taxpayer money. To discuss the social and economic impact of a 2-year randomised intervention aimed to improve social skills and self-control (i.e., non-cognitive skills) among disruptive boys from low-income neighbourhoods in Montreal. We review findings from published studies documenting the impact of the intervention at different stages of the life course, as well as its cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit. The intervention improved behavioural indicators throughout adolescence and eventually led to greater high school graduation rates, reduced crime, and better labour market outcomes in adulthood. Importantly, the prevention programme generated considerable returns to taxpayer investments. Findings from the Montreal Longitudinal Experimental Study have been well-received and have contributed to an early prevention 'awakening' in Quebec and elsewhere.

My future-self has (not) quit smoking: An experimental study into the effect of a future-self intervention on smoking-related self-identity constructs

ObjectivesEnvisioning one's (non)smoking future may make (un)desired future identities more accessible, salient, and personally relevant and facilitate smoking cessation. The current study assessed whether a future-self intervention can weaken smoker self-identity and expected identity loss when quitting smoking, and strengthen quitter- and nonsmoker self-identity, while accounting for personal factors—socioeconomic position, nicotine dependence, consideration of future consequences, and clarity of the envisioned future-self. Additionally, it examined the association between smoking-related identity and quitting intention and behavior. MethodsThis longitudinal online experimental study randomized 233 adult smokers to an intervention condition (where they completed mental imagery, visual, and verbal tasks about a future (non)smoking self), or to a passive control condition. Smoker-, quitter-, nonsmoker self-identity and identity loss were measured post-intervention and after one- and three-months. Quit intention and attempts were measured at baseline and after one month. ResultsThere was a consistent increase in non-smoker self-identity, and decrease in smoker self-identity and identity loss over a period of six months for all participants, but no significant difference in smoking-related identity between the intervention and control group. While personal factors did not moderate the effect of the intervention, we found that smoking-related identity constructs do vary with nicotine dependence, consideration of future consequences, and clarity of the envisioned future-self. Quitting behavior is primarily associated with non-smoker self-identity. ConclusionsAlthough the future-self intervention did not significantly influence smoking-related identity or behavior, identity—in particular, non-smoker self-identity—is important to consider in smoking cessation interventions. More research is needed to find effective operationalizations for identity-based interventions in the context of smoking.

Antibacterial activity of Bixa orellana compared with Camellia sinensis against Streptococcus mutans: An in vitro comparative study

Aim: Bixa orellana and Camellia sinensis are plant species cultivated in several South American countries such as Peru and used to combat diseases due to their antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to assess the antibacterial activity of the methanolic extract of B. orellana compared with the ethanolic extract of C. sinensis against Streptococcus mutans at 24, 48, and 72 h. Materials and Methods: This in vitro and longitudinal experimental study had a sample of 12 wells per group. The antibacterial activity was assessed at concentrations of 1000 mg/mL (100%), 750 mg/mL (75%), and 500 mg/mL (50%), by the well diffusion method on Müller Hinton Agar in two stages. In first stage, antibacterial activity of ethanolic extract of C. sinensis and methanolic extract of B. orellana was determined. In second stage, concentrations of both extracts with higher antibacterial activity were compared using 0.12% chlorhexidine as a control. In addition, antibacterial sensitivity was assessed according to Duraffourd’s scale and the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration (MIC and MBC) was determined. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskall Wallis test and ANOVA test of one factor inter-group and intra-group with Tukey and Bonferroni post hoc, considering a significance level of 5%. Results: In first stage, ethanolic extract of C. sinensis (100% and 75%) and methanolic extract of B. orellana (100% and 75%) showed higher antibacterial activity against S. mutans at 48 h (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). In second stage, at 48 h, highly sensitive activity was observed against C. sinensis (100% and 75%) and B. orellana at 100%. In addition, C. sinensis at 100% and 75% showed significantly higher antibacterial activity against S. mutans compared with B. orellana (P < 0.05) and chlorhexidine (P < 0.05). Likewise, a significant increase in antibacterial activity could be observed in all concentrations at 48 h (P < 0.001), decreasing significantly in all groups at 72 h (P < 0.001). The MIC of the ethanolic extract of C. sinensis was 250 mg/mL and the MBC was 500 mg/mL. In the methanolic extract of B. orellana the MIC was 125 mg/mL and the MBC was 500 mg/mL. Conclusion: Ethanolic extract of C. sinensis and methanolic extract of B. orellana, both at 100% concentration, presented their highest antibacterial activity against S. mutans at 48 h, with C. sinensis more effective compared with B. orellana. However, this antibacterial effect decreased in both extracts at 72 h. The MBC of C. sinensis and B. orellana against S. mutans was 500 mg/mL for both extracts, whereas the MIC was 250 mg/mL and 125 mg/mL, respectively, for both extracts.

Social interactions for a sustainable lifestyle: The design of an experimental case study

Every day we face numerous lifestyle decisions, some dictated by habits and some more conscious, which may or may not promote sustainable living. Aided by digital technology, sustainable behaviors can diffuse within social groups and inclusive communities. This paper outlines a longitudinal experimental study of social influence in behavioral changes toward sustainability, in the context of smart residential homes. Participants are residing in the housing on campus referred to as KTH Live-In Lab, whose behaviors are observed w.r.t. key lifestyle choices, such as food, resources, mobility, consumption, and environmental citizenship. The focus is on the preparatory phase of the case study and the challenges and limitations encountered during its setup. In particular, this work proposes a definition of sustainability indicators for environmentally significant behaviors, and hypothesizes that, through digitalization of a household into a social network of interacting tenants, sustainable living can be promoted. Preliminary results confirm the feasibility of the proposed experimental methodology.

Effect of Inulin Intervention on Metabolic Control and Methylation of INS and IRS1 Genes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Currently, treatments are being sought to improve the control of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and inulin has been shown to be effective in reducing glucose levels and other metabolic control parameters. These effects on metabolic control may be associated with changes in the epigenetic modulation of genes of the insulin pathway. Therefore, our objective is to determine the effect of agave inulin in metabolic control parameters and in INS and IRS1 genes' methylation in T2DM patients. This was a longitudinal experimental study with 67 Mexican participants who received an intervention of inulin agave (10 g daily) for 2 months. The methylation of the INS and IRS1 genes was determined by MSP. For the INS gene, we found a significant decrease in the proportions of T2DM patients with methylated DNA after inulin intervention (p = 0.0001). In contrast, the difference in the proportions of the unmethylated IRS1 gene before and after the inulin intervention was not significant (p = 0.79). On the other hand, we observed changes in the number of T2DM patients' recommended categories for metabolic control depending on the methylation of INS and IRS1 genes before and after treatment with inulin. For the first time, we report the modification in the methylation of two genes, INS and IRS1, of the insulin pathway and provide information on the possible relevant role of epigenetics as a key factor in positive changes in metabolic control parameters by inulin intake in T2DM patients.

A Longitudinal Experimental Study Examining How and Whether Practicing Acts of Kindness Affects Materialism

(1) Background: Kindness interventions assist individuals in the pursuit of greater well-being. However, little is known about whether these interventions can decrease materialism. The current study tested how kindness interventions decrease materialism and external aspirations. Furthermore, we tested whether these interventions influence impulsive shopping. (2) Method: We randomly assigned 122 females to a three-week intervention of practicing acts of kindness or a neutral intervention (practicing acts related to studying). Before and after the interventions, all participants reported their life satisfaction, level of materialism, and internal and external aspirations. (3) Results: Among women practicing acts of kindness, materialism and life satisfaction did not change compared to the control group, but in both conditions, life satisfaction increased, and materialism decreased. However, we found that practicing kindness was associated with (a) an increase in aspiration affiliation, (b) a reduction in the intention to shop impulsively, (c) less focus on external aspirations, and (d) more focus on internal aspirations. (4) Conclusions: Although our results show that practicing kindness does not lead to a decrease in materialism, they suggest that focusing on increasing personal happiness might lead to such a decrease. Furthermore, our research contributes to the existing literature by demonstrating that kind women are less oriented toward materialistic values.

Application of an eDNA assay for the detection of Pseudoloma neurophilia (Microsporidia) in zebrafish (Danio rerio) facilities

Environmental DNA (eDNA) water assays are beginning to be implemented for many important pathogens in confined aquaculture systems. Recirculating systems are rapidly being developed for fin fish aquaculture. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are reared in these systems, and Pseudoloma neurophilia (Microsporidia) represents a serious challenge for zebrafish research facilities. Diagnosis of the pathogen has traditionally used histology or PCR of tissues with lethal sampling. However, with the development of a nonlethal assay to detect P. neurophilia in tank water, facilities will be able to integrate the assay into routine surveillance efforts to couple with their established protocols. Here, we first describe a modified protocol to extract and quantify parasite DNA from the environment for nonlethal detection of P. neurophilia in adult zebrafish populations. Using this modified assay, we then evaluated water samples from a longitudinal experimental infection study, targeting timepoints during initial infection. The parasite was detectable in the water immediately after initial exposure until week 4 post exposure (pe), when the parasite was undetectable until 7 weeks pe. After that time, the parasite was sporadically detected in the water for the 10-month study, likely correlating with the lifecycle of the parasite. Using water samples from the Zebrafish International Resource Center, we also validated the clinical relevance of the assay in a large zebrafish facility. The integration of this assay at ZIRC will significantly compliment surveillance and control efforts for the microsporidian parasite.

Modular education with a double degree of differentiation as a condition for students to achieve meta-subject results of educational activities

Introduction. The relevance of the study is due to the state of modern learning theory, which does not define the ways of implementing individualization and metasubjectivity in educational activities. The purpose of the article is to reveal the methodological foundations for building a modular learning technology with a double degree of differentiation for the formation of universal learning activities as meta-subject results. Methodology and methods. The methodological basis of the research is the ideas and principles of technological, systemic, synergistic, individual, cognitive and metasubject approaches. They make it possible to justify and ensure the individualization and achievement of meta-subject results of the educational activities of schoolchildren. 2075 students and 564 teachers of secondary schools, 401 university students of pedagogical areas of training, 103 teachers of higher education have participated in a longitudinal experimental study to confirm theoretical conclusions since 1990. Results. The main results of the study consist in revealing the essence of modular education with a double degree of differentiation as a complex educational technology for individualizing the educational activities of schoolchildren and forming meta-subject results in it. The structure of the training module of the new format is also presented. The empirical facts and trends were recorded by the study, indicating a decrease in schoolchildren's anxiety in learning by the factors "fear of a situation of testing knowledge" (‒ 55%), "fear of self-expression" (‒ 31%)"; staying in a “normal” emotional state (81%) with an even, calm emotional background of the lesson (68%) and an increased ( joyful) state (23%), provided that the training session is organized in a technology mode; about the positive dynamics of teachers' possession of methodological skills when mastering technology as a system (application of methods of pedagogical research – 52%; the ability to independently develop an independent questionnaire, a test, a measuring tool – 48%; the ability to generalize the results of experimental work – 30%). Also, more than 500 models of innovative lessons for achieving metasubject results, 134 modules taking into account the cognitive style, and many level tasks have been developed. Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty of the research is determined by the substantiation and development of a didactic system that simultaneously determines the solution of two problems: the achievement of meta-subject results by students in a comfortable individualized educational environment. The results of the research develop the didactic theory of educational technologies, meta-objectivity and individualization. Practical significance. The significance of the results lies in the development of a technology which is useful for modernizing the learning process in the context of the development of individuality and the achievement of metasubject results in educational activities in general educational organizations, higher education, and further vocational institutions.

Topical probiotics and steroids can accelerate the process of angiogenesis in wound repair: A comparative study in rats.

Objective: To asses if Topical probiotics and steroids can accelerate the process of angiogenesis in wound repair. Study Design: Longitudinal Experimental study. Setting: Al-Tibri Medical College. Period: Jan 2020 to Dec 2020. Material &amp; Methods: Total 72 male albino rats were acquired from the animal house of the institution, and 18 as a requirement of per day of sampling included 6 animals/gp. An equal size incision of (2x2cm2) was made in all the animals. Group A was given Topical Normal Saline (Control Group), Group B was given the Probiotic (Lactobacillus Acidophilus), and Group C was given Topical Steroid (Dexamethasone). Samples from the wound created surgically was obtained on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 21st Day and slides were created to observe the number of blood vessels formed and angiogenesis under a light microscope. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. To compare the mean between the groups, the ANOVA was applied along with post hoc Tukey's test. The level of significance was considered P≤0.05. Results: The mean number of blood vessels formed in Group A (Control Group) was 2.75, 4, 5.25, and 5.50, in Group B (Probiotics Group) was 10, 13.50, 2.25, and 1, and in Group C (Steroid Group) was 3.75, 5.50, 3, and 2.25 on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 21st Day respectively. Significant difference was seen in the mean number of blood vessels formed when the Probiotic group was compared to Group A and C. Conclusion: Topical Probiotic accelerates the process of angiogenesis in wound repair due to their anti-inflammatory response.

Personalizing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for precision depression treatment based on functional brain network controllability and optimal control analysis

Brain neuromodulation effectively treats neurological diseases and psychiatric disorders such as Depression. However, due to patient heterogeneity, neuromodulation treatment outcomes are often highly variable, requiring patient-specific stimulation protocols throughout the recovery stages to optimize treatment outcomes. Therefore, it is critical to personalize neuromodulation protocol to optimize the patient-specific stimulation targets and parameters by accommodating inherent interpatient variability and intersession alteration during treatments. The study aims to develop a personalized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) protocol and evaluate its feasibility in optimizing the treatment efficiency using an existing dataset from an antidepressant experimental imaging study in depression. The personalization of the rTMS treatment protocol was achieved by personalizing both stimulation targets and parameters via a novel approach integrating the functional brain network controllability analysis and optimal control analysis. First, the functional brain network controllability analysis was performed to identify the optimal rTMS stimulation target from the effective connectivity network constructed from patient-specific resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data. The optimal control algorithm was then applied to optimize the rTMS stimulation parameters based on the optimized target. The performance of the proposed personalized rTMS technique was evaluated using datasets collected from a longitudinal antidepressant experimental imaging study in depression (n = 20). Simulation models demonstrated that the proposed personalized rTMS protocol outperformed the standard rTMS treatment by efficiently steering a depressive resting brain state to a healthy resting brain state, indicated by the significantly less control energy needed and higher model fitting accuracy achieved. The node with the maximum average controllability of each patient was designated as the optimal target region for the personalized rTMS protocol. Our results also demonstrated the theoretical feasibility of achieving comparable neuromodulation efficacy by stimulating a single node compared to stimulating multiple driver nodes. The findings support the feasibility of developing personalized neuromodulation protocols to more efficiently treat depression and other neurological diseases.