Community Residents Research Articles

Descriptive Epidemiology and Prognostic Significance of Diaphragm Thickness in the General Population: The Nagahama Study.

Diaphragm thickness is a potential marker of sarcopenia in addition to muscle mass and strength at extremities. We aimed to clarify the descriptive epidemiology and prognostic significance of diaphragm thickness in the general population. The study participants were 3324 community residents (mean age: 61.4 ± 12.8 years) who participated in a longitudinal cohort study. Clinical parameters were obtained during the follow-up survey of the study population. Diaphragm thickness was measured from B-mode ultrasound images obtained in a supine position. Clinical and physical factors independently associated with diaphragm thickness were assessed by a linear regression model and a causal mediation analysis. All-cause mortality was determined by reviewing residential registry records. Prognostic significance of diaphragm thickness for all-cause mortality was examined using a Cox proportional hazard model analysis. Diaphragm thickness was greater in men than women (end-expiration, β = 0.161, p < 0.001; end-inspiration, β = 0.156, p < 0.001) and associated with waist circumference (end-expiration, β = 0.259, p < 0.001; end-inspiration, β = 0.128, p < 0.001). Handgrip strength, smoking habit, insulin resistance and exercise habit were not associated with diaphragm thickness. Skeletal muscle mass index showed apparent association with diaphragm thickness, though this association was not observed after adjusting for waist circumference. Over a mean follow-up of 1686 days (15 358 person-years), there were 56 cases of all-cause mortality. Weak handgrip strength (hazard ratio = 0.95, p = 0.044) and low forced vital capacity (hazard ratio = 0.57, p = 0.045) were associated with all-cause mortality, though none of the diaphragm thickness parameters showed a significant association (thickness at end-expiration, p = 0.722; thickness at end-inspiration, p = 0.277; thickening fraction, p = 0.219). Waist circumference but not parameters of sarcopenia was independently associated with diaphragm thickness. Diaphragm thickness was not associated with all-cause mortality. Diaphragm thickness may not be a marker of systemic sarcopenia.

Surfactin facilitates establishment of Bacillus subtilis in synthetic communities.

Soil bacteria are prolific producers of a myriad of biologically active secondary metabolites. These natural products play key roles in modern society, finding use as anti-cancer agents, as food additives, and as alternatives to chemical pesticides. As for their original role in interbacterial communication, secondary metabolites have been extensively studied under in vitro conditions, revealing many roles including antagonism, effects on motility, niche colonization, signaling, and cellular differentiation. Despite the growing body of knowledge on their mode of action, biosynthesis, and regulation, we still do not fully understand the role of secondary metabolites on the ecology of the producers and resident communities in situ. Here, we specifically examine the influence of Bacillus subtilis-produced cyclic lipopeptides during the assembly of a bacterial synthetic community, and simultaneously, explore the impact of cyclic lipopeptides on B. subtilis establishment success in a synthetic community propagated in an artificial soil microcosm. We found that surfactin production facilitates B. subtilis establishment success within multiple synthetic communities. Although neither a wild type nor a cyclic lipopeptide non-producer mutant had a major impact on the synthetic community composition over time, both the B. subtilis and the synthetic community metabolomes were altered during co-cultivation. Overall, our work demonstrates the importance of surfactin production in microbial communities, suggesting a broad spectrum of action of this natural product.

Household waste-specific ambient air shows greater inhalable antimicrobial resistance risks in densely populated communities.

Household waste is a hotspot of antibiotic resistance, which can be readily emitted to the ambient airborne inhalable particulate matters (PM10) during the day-long storage in communities. Nevertheless, whether these waste-specific inhalable antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are associated with pathogenic bacteria or pose hazards to local residents have yet to be explored. By high-throughput metagenomic sequencing and culture-based antibiotic resistance validation, we analyzed 108 airborne PM10 and nearby environmental samples collected across different types of residential communities in Shanghai, the most populous city in China. Compared to the cold-dry period, the warm-humid season had significantly larger PM10-associated antibiotic resistomes in all types of residential communities (T-test, P < 0.001), most of airborne ARGs in which were estimatedly originated from disposed household waste (∼ 30%). In addition, the airborne bacteria were assembled in a deterministic approach (iCAMP, P<0.01), where the waste-specific bacteria taxa including Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, and Kocuria had the predominant niches in the airborne microbial assemblages. Notably, these waste-sourced bacteria were also identified as the primary airborne hosts of ARGs encoding the aminoglycoside resistances. Among them, some antibiotic resistant human pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, not only exhibited higher ARG horizontal gene transfer (HGT) potential across the microbial assemblages, but also imposed direct infection risks on the local residents by 2min inhalation exposure per day. When the daily exposure duration increased to 11min, the infection-induced illness burden became unignorably high, especially in densely populated urban communities, being twofold greater than rural areas.

The roles of viruses in tephritid pest multitrophic interactions and an outlook for biological control.

Tephritid fruit fly pests remain a considerable problem for agricultural fruit production around the world. New control methods that do not rely on synthetic insecticides are increasingly desirable to diversify tephritid pest management programs. Biological control through the release of parasitoid wasps has historically provided effective suppression of fruit fly pests, although molecular factors that influence the success of fruit fly parasitoids are understudied. Microbes have been demonstrated to facilitate myriad interactions between insects and their environment and have been the subject of recent investigation within tephritids. Specifically, the diversity and function of viruses found within fruit flies and associated parasitoids is an emerging field of research that has the potential to deepen our understanding of previously hidden factors that facilitate sustainable pest control. Most work to date has focused on identifying resident viral communities within fruit flies using metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing approaches. Additionally, a growing body of evidence has revealed a multitude of functional dynamics that viruses have with fruit fly hosts, including vertically transmitted commensal viruses and parasitoid-vectored pathogens. Heritable viruses transmitted by fruit fly parasitoids, in particular, have been shown to play prominent roles in fruit fly multitrophic interactions, in which viral infection can shape the survival rate and host range of infected parasitoids. Furthermore, at least one parasitoid virus represents a lethal pathogen to a wide range of fruit fly pest species. Parasitoid viruses could therefore present novel opportunities to leverage natural antagonistic interactions for fruit fly pest control innovations.

The role of smart community microgrids in Aotearoa’s energy future

ABSTRACT There is a pressing need to expand electricity production in Aotearoa New Zealand to meet sustainability goals and lower energy costs. This new generation needs to be based on renewable sources, chiefly wind and solar, for both sustainability and economic reasons. While there remains a role for the legacy grid, microgrids provide a means of co-locating generation with load, minimising transmission line investment and energy losses. This paper explores the advantages of smart community microgrids in this context, but also examines the challenges in terms of the existing legacy grid approach. Three case studies are given as examples, covering an isolated community with no grid connection, a more conventional residential community of 30 households, and a community with local commercial/industrial loads in addition to housing. These case studies show the benefits in terms of local consumption of locally generated electricity coupled with sharing or local trading within the community. Microgrids can support New Zealand’s transition to a more electrified, equitable, economical and low-emissions energy system, but their development does require not just exploitation of new technologies, but also adjustment to the legacy grid model and a fresh approach to electricity infrastructure planning and management.

Rabies vaccinations at the rural–urban divide: successes and barriers to dog rabies vaccination programs from a rural and urban campaign in Zambia

IntroductionDog vaccination against rabies is considered one of the most effective strategies at preventing human deaths from rabies and is a key strategy for eliminating dog-mediated human rabies deaths. Traditional vaccination approaches in Zambia rarely collect operational data to assess coverage and inform subsequent campaigns.MethodsFollowing mass vaccination campaigns in rural (Itezhi tezhi) and urban (Lusaka) communities, we evaluated vaccination coverage achieved during the campaigns and characterized and estimated the dog population in these communities.ResultsHerd immunity (i.e., 70% vaccination coverage) was not achieved in the Lusaka campaign, likely due to challenges in pre-campaign community sensitization and distance to vaccination sites in the central point campaign approach. Dog population density showed a strong exponential association with human density (R2 = 0.89). Extrapolating this relationship nationally, there are an estimated 3.2 million dogs in Zambia (human-to-dog ratio 5.8:1) with 86% residing in rural communities at a very low density of less than 6 dogs per square kilometer.DiscussionAs most dogs were found to reside at very low densities, unique challenges to large-scale dog vaccination approaches may impact Zambia, due to high logistical costs associated with these settings. Prioritizing vaccinations in higher-density free-roaming dog populations could maximize effectiveness in resource-limited settings. Private veterinary services were commonly utilized among surveyed dog owners in urbanized communities in Lusaka, suggesting that they are an important collaborator for achieving rabies herd immunity. With improved knowledge of dog population and ownership characteristics, Zambia is well-prepared to design more effective vaccination campaigns as the rabies elimination program expands.

Water insecurity is associated with sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in a small-scale population in Lowland Bolivia experiencing lifestyle changes.

Emerging evidence indicates water insecurity (WI) is detrimental to nutritional outcomes and dietary choices. This study measured WI experiences alongside market and traditional sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption in a small-scale society experiencing early stages of the nutrition transition (i.e., lifestyle and dietary changes away from traditional foods) to test how they are associated. The twelve-item Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) Scale was implemented along with a cross-sectional retrospective survey of beverage intake and sociodemographics across five communities at varying distance to a market town. Tsimane' forager-horticulturalist adults aged ≥16 years (n=455; 47% women) in Lowland Bolivia, April-May, 2019. Sugar-sweetened beverage and traditional beverage consumption. Multivariate logistic and poisson regressions adjusting for possible confounding variables, including age, gender, income, household water needs, and community residence. Using logistic regressions, each point higher WI (HWISE) score was associated with 23% (95% CI: 1.01-1.50; P=0.035) and 27% (95% CI: 1.06-1.52; P=0.008) higher odds of consuming an SSB in the past week for men and women, respectively. For men, each point higher HWISE score was associated with 13% (95% CI: 1.10-1.16; P<0.001) higher odds of drinking chicha fuerte (a traditional, homemade fermented beverage with antibacterial properties) and 16% (95% CI: 1.02-1.32; P=0.022) higher odds of consuming liquor. SSB consumption was highest in the closest communities to the market town and declined significantly with distance; while traditional beverages such as chicha dulce (a sugar-sweetened, unfermented homemade chicha) were lowest in the close communities and increased with distance to the market town. Among Tsimane' adults living in the Bolivian Amazon experiencing the nutrition transition, WI was associated with greater SSB intake. Distance to the main market town shaped access and preferences as it was associated with SSB and traditional beverage consumption.

Sleep-related drugs utilization and suicide behaviors: a population-based study in China

BackgroundPrevious studies have yielded conflicting findings regarding the relationship between the use of sleep-related drugs (SRDU) and suicidal behaviors. This population-based study aimed to analyze the associations between SRDU and suicidal behaviors. Additionally, we examined the associations between SRDU and specific conditional suicidal behaviors, providing insights into the impact of SRDU on the progression of suicidal behaviors.MethodsThe study was conducted among community residents aged 18 and older using a cross-sectional design, analyzing 21,376 participants. Data on SRDU, suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts were collected. Participants were categorized into general individuals without suicidal behaviors (GNS), suicidal ideators without a plan or attempt (SINPA), suicidal ideators with a plan but no attempt (SIP), and individuals who attempted suicide (SA). Insomnia, sleep apnea, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), and narcolepsy were assessed using the Athens Insomnia Scale, Berlin Questionnaire, Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Questionnaire, and Ullanlinna Narcolepsy Scale, respectively.ResultsAfter adjusting for sociodemographic variables, insomnia, sleep apnea, RBD, and narcolepsy, SRDU showed a positive association with suicidal ideation (OR = 3.02), plans (OR = 4.78), and attempts (OR = 6.40; all p < 0.001). Compared to GNS, and after controlling for the same variables, SRDU was associated with SINPA (OR = 2.46), SIP (OR = 5.11), and SA (OR = 6.93; all p < 0.001) respectively. However, no significant differences in SRDU were found between SINPA, SIP, and SA (all p > 0.05).ConclusionsThis population-based study confirms that SRDU is positively associated with suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts, even after accounting for the risk factors of insomnia, sleep apnea, RBD, and narcolepsy. Nonetheless, SRDU does not appear to influence the progression from suicidal ideation to attempt.

Research on Benefit Distribution of Old Residential Area Renovation Projects under the New PPP Mechanism

The introduction of the new PPP mechanism will bring about huge changes in the implementation methods and revenue sources of old residential area renovation PPP projects implemented in the past in China. In order to cope with thechanges brought about by the new PPP mechanism and ensure the smooth implementation of the project, it is necessary to study and explore the scientific and reasonable revenue distribution mechanism for old residential area renovation projects under the new PPP mechanism. Based on the research achievements of predecessors and the characteristics of the project, this paper determines the four indicators of resource input ratio, risk allocation ratio, innovation ability, and community residents' satisfaction as the influencing factors of project revenue distribution, and uses them to revise the initial Shapley value revenue distribution model. The paper then conducts an empirical analysis of the M old residential area renovation project in H City as an example. After the revision, the social capital will receive higher project revenue allocation than the initial allocation value due to its greater resource input, greater risk allocation proportion, stronger innovation ability, and higher community residents' satisfaction, verifying the fairness and rationality of the revenue distribution model constructed in this paper and its ability to motivate the participation entities to improve both the economic and social benefits of the project and promote the successful completion of the project. The research content of this paper can provide ideas for the revenue distribution scheme research of old residential area renovation projects under the new PPP mechanism, and has certain reference value.

IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY POLICING: PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION AND DISPUTE HANDLING ROLES

Effective policing requires the active involvement of the local community. To engage the community, the Addis Ababa Police Commission implemented the community policy with the objectives of identifying inclusive problems in the community and managing social disputes. This study assessed the importance of the community policing program by using a qualitative research approach to collect detailed information. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The study found that involving community residents in community policing helped police departments identify the problem and manage disputes at the community level. This enabled the resolution of critical and serious problems that require detailed police intervention. As a result of community engagement, beyond reducing the burden on the police department, empowering citizens in managing social disputes promotes a culture of proactive problem-solving among residents at the grassroots level. The study advocates for a review of conventional approaches by social work to empower communities to include citizen empowerment and empowerment programs to reduce structural barriers. Accordingly, the study suggests that the Addis Ababa Police Commission should intensively implement community policing in different divisions of the police commission.

Factors Driving Social Capital Participation in Urban Green Development: A Case Study on Green Renovation of Old Residential Communities Under Urban Renewal in China

Urban green development is crucial for citizen well-being and serves as a key pillar of sustainable development strategies. Collaborative governance mechanisms help address management, technical, and financial challenges in urban green development. The renovation of old residential communities within the context of urban renewal is becoming a focal point in the development of Chinese cities. To promote green development in the renovation of old residential communities in China, this study introduces the collaborative governance mechanism of government–social capital cooperation and identifies the factors influencing social capital participation in green development. A hybrid approach is proposed, combining grounded theory, IGAHP subjective weighting, CRITIC objective weighting, game theory, and ISM. This approach is applied to identify, evaluate, and analyze the factors driving social capital participation in the green renovation of old residential communities. The results indicate that government incentives and constraints, policy support, the costs and benefits of implementing green renovation, the development of green renovation technologies, and construction technical abilities significantly influence the decision-making of social capital. The findings provide theoretical support for decision-making by governments and social capital in participating in the green renovation of old residential communities and offer a methodological reference for analyzing social capital participation in other urban green development projects and for further policy formulation. Future research should focus on examining social capital involvement in other types of urban green development projects.

Identification of Inequities in Green Visibility and Ways to Increase Greenery in Neighborhoods: A Case Study of Wuhan, China

The rapid increase in urban population density driven by urban development has intensified inequity in urban green space distribution. Identifying the causes of changes in green equity and developing strategies to improve urban greening are crucial for optimizing resource allocation and alleviating social inequalities. However, the long-term spatio-temporal evolution of green visibility and equity remains underexplored. This study utilized the “Time Machine” feature to capture street view images from 2014, 2017, and 2021, analyzing changes in green visibility and its equity across residential communities in Wuhan. Deep learning techniques and statistical methods, including the Gini coefficient and location quotient (LQ), were employed to assess the distribution and spatial equity of street-level greenery. The results showed that overall green visibility in Wuhan increased by 4.18% between 2014 and 2021. However, this improvement did not translate into better spatial equity, as the Gini coefficient consistently ranged between 0.4 and 0.5. Among the seven municipal districts, only the Jiang’an District demonstrated relatively equitable green visibility in 2017 and 2021. Despite a gradual reduction in disparities in green visibility, a spatial mismatch persisted between UGS growth and population distribution, leading to uneven patterns in UGS equity. This study explores the factors driving inequities in green visibility and proposes strategies to enhance urban greening. Key recommendations include integrating the green visibility equity evaluation framework into urban planning to guide fair green space allocation, prioritizing greenery in low-income neighborhoods, and reducing hardscapes to support the planting and maintenance of tall canopy trees. These measures aim to enhance accessible and visible green resources and promote equitable access across communities.

Optimizing Public Spaces for Age-Friendly Living: Renovation Strategies for 1980s Residential Communities in Hangzhou, China

Population aging and urbanization are two of the most significant social transformations of the 21st century. Against the backdrop of rapid aging in China, developing age-friendly community environments, particularly through the renovation of legacy residential communities, not only supports active and healthy aging but also promotes equity and sustainable development. This study focuses on residential communities built in the 1980s in Hangzhou, exploring strategies for the age-friendly renovation of outdoor public spaces. The residential communities that flourished during the construction boom of the 1980s are now confronting a dual challenge: aging populations and deteriorating facilities. However, existing renovation efforts often pay insufficient attention to the comprehensive age-friendly transformation of outdoor public spaces within these neighborhoods. Following a structured research framework encompassing investigation, evaluation, design, and discussion, this study first analyzes linear grid layouts and usage patterns of these communities. Then, the research team uses post-occupancy evaluation (POE) to assess the age-friendliness of outdoor public spaces. Semi-structured interviews with elderly residents identify key concerns and establish a preliminary evaluation framework, while a Likert-scale questionnaire quantifies the satisfaction with age-friendly features across four communities. The assessment reveals that key age-friendliness issues, including poor traffic safety, dispersed activity spaces, and insufficiently adapted facilities, are closely linked to the linear usage patterns within the spatial framework of the grid layouts. Based on the findings, the study develops tiered renovation goals, renovation principles and implemented an age-friendly design in the Hemu Community. The strengths, weaknesses, and feasibility of the renovation plan are discussed, while three recommendations are made to ensure successful implementation. The study is intended to provide a valuable reference for advancing age-friendly residential renewal efforts in Hangzhou and contributing to the broader objective of sustainable, inclusive city development.

Asset-based community development and happiness in community residents in Taiwan

ABSTRACT The rise of literature on Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) has indicated a positive association between ABCD and life outcomes in communities. However, the empirical effects of ABCD on the well-being of community residents in Taiwan remain largely unexplored. This study used 682 residents to examine the relationships between ABCD and happiness in community residents in Taiwan. The findings of this study show that ABCD had significant positive effects on happiness (β = 0.42, p < .001). Specifically, dynamic assets have a 22% stronger impact on happiness compared to static assets (β = 0.44 versus 0.36). Further, the study found that the community capacities in below dimensions have high effects on the happiness of the residents: participation (β = 0.47), leadership (β = 0.43), and organization (β = 0.43). This study calls for specific strategies to strengthen community assets in community development that has vital effects on the well-being of community residents in Taiwan, especially for community participation, leadership, and organizational capacities.

Blink completeness and rate in dry eye disease: An investigator-masked, prospective registry-based, cross-sectional, prognostic study.

To investigate the prognostic ability of blink rate and the proportion of incomplete blinking to predict dry eye disease diagnosis, as defined by the TFOS DEWS II criteria. A total of 453 community residents (282 females, 171 males; mean±SD age, 37±19years) were recruited in an investigator-masked, prospective registry-based, cross-sectional, prognostic study. Dry eye symptomology, tear film quality, and ocular surface characteristics were assessed in a single clinical session, and blink parameters evaluated by an independent masked observer. Overall, 214 (47%) participants fulfilled the TFOS DEWS II criteria for dry eye disease. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that an increased proportion of incomplete blinking was associated with a higher odds of dry eye disease (odds ratio, 1.12 per 10% increase; 95% CI, 1.05-1.19; p<0.001), with the Youden-optimal prognostic threshold proportion being≥40% incomplete blinking. Higher levels of incomplete blinking were also associated with poorer dry eye symptomology, tear film stability, corneal and lid margin staining, lipid layer thickness, meibography, and meibum quality (all p≤0.03). No significant associations were detected between blink rate and ocular surface parameters (all p>0.10). The degree of incomplete blinking is a significant predictor of dry eye disease, and the utility of incorporating blink assessment into diagnostic workup algorithms warrants further investigation. The association with meibomian gland dropout, expressed meibum quality, and lipid layer thickness would suggest that incomplete blinking may predispose towards the development of meibomian gland dysfunction.

Intraindividual correlations between nocturnal urination frequency and sleep blood pressure: the Nagahama Study.

Nocturnal urination frequency is associated with sleep blood pressure (BP). However, it was uncertain to what extent the sleep BP increases within individuals with each increase in the number of nocturnal urination. We calculated intraindividual differences in sleep BP between nights with different urination frequencies to clarify their relationship. We enrolled 2418 community residents (mean age, 61.1 years). Participants wore a cuff on the upper arm when sleeping that automatically measured BP at fixed times during a 1-week period. The frequency of nocturnal urination was recorded in a sleep diary by the study participants. Sleep systolic BP increased with increased nocturnal urination frequency (0 time vs. 1 time, Δ2.1 mmHg, P < 0.001; 1 time vs. 2 times, Δ1.8 mmHg, P < 0.001; 2 times vs. ≥3 times, Δ1.4 mmHg, P = 0.012), and a similar association was observed for sleep diastolic BP. These associations were independent of age, the use of antihypertensive drugs reduced renal function, and the presence of sleep-disordered breathing. Sleep BP in participants who experienced nocturnal urination 0, 1, and 2 times during the 1-week measurement period showed a linear increase with the frequency of urination (0 time vs. 2 times: systolic BP, Δ4.7 mmHg; diastolic BP, Δ3.1 mmHg; P < 0.001). There was an intraindividual correlation between nocturnal urination frequency and sleep BP. These correlations were independent of baseline BP and participants' clinical backgrounds. Nocturnal urination frequency may be an indicator of individuals who require detailed ambulatory BP measurement.

How to encourage well-being with reminders interventions: A field experiment on food waste separation and composting behaviors.

Although well-being is a fundamental human goal, few studies have clarified the causal relationship between well-being and waste separation, which strongly affects sustainable development. We propose that, assuming humans' innate affinity for nature (the biophilia theory), waste separation would be conducive to a sense of life meaning and well-being. To test this hypothesis, we systematically investigate how food waste separation and composting behaviors affect subjective well-being and meaning in life in a longitudinal field experiment. 226 valid residents were randomized into intervention (n=113) or control (n=113) groups. The participants in the intervention group were provided informational reminders (please separate food waste) for 9weeks, and were asked to record their food waste separation and composting behaviors. We find that community residents who performed food waste separation and composting behaviors (intervention group) had a higher meaning in life and subjective well-being than those who did not (control group). Meanwhile, food waste separation and composting behaviors can promote subjective well-being through the sequential mediation effects of nature connectedness and meaning in life, validating the biophilia theory. These findings not only provide compelling evidence for how waste separation behaviors can promote well-being but also generate important implications for policy-makers and the understanding of pro-environmental behaviors.

Exploring the Role of Communication Asset Mapping (CAM) as a Strategy to Promote Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment Information Within African American Communities.

Objective: African Americans (AAs) carry the largest burden for almost every type of cancer in the US and are also more likely to die from cancer. Approximately 10% of cancers can be explained by a hereditary factor and detected earlier. Many AAs, however, have inequitable access to hereditary cancer risk assessment (HCRA) tools and information, further exacerbating disparities in cancer rates. Innovative communication strategies to promote community-based HCRA information have promise as a means encouraging optimal primary cancer screening among AAs. The current pilot study followed a participatory process where researchers engaged with a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to explore how Communication Asset Mapping (CAM) could assist lay health advisors with the dissemination of evidence-based HC/RA information within AA faith communities. Methods: The research team and CAB conducted exploratory community-engaged group discussions with residents (n = 21) guided by Communication Infrastructure Theory, and used a community-engaged mapping process to inform the development of a CAM dissemination strategy. Results: Through textual analysis, the following conclusions were reached: (1) optimal locations (e.g., community centers) within specified neighborhood networks should have representatives who are trusted ambassadors to assist with HCRA information dissemination; (2) trusted community member voices should fully represent the neighborhood network in the community-engagement mapping process; (3) well-known and frequented geographic locations should provide a true representation of participants' neighborhoods to create a robust health information network concerning HCRA. Conclusions: Community residents appreciated the engagement process; however, they felt that its impact was limited due to the lack of community voices within their neighborhoods to identify important communication resources within the network for optimal HCRA information dissemination. CAM, therefore, is an important public health strategy for the identification of trusted networks and useful communication resources within these networks. The strategy was also helpful in pinpointing people who could be critical communicators of emerging health information akin to HCRA.

Investigation of brain volume changes associated with aging: Results from the fourth research on osteoarthritis/osteoporosis against disability survey.

This study aims to investigate the impact of aging on brain volume among community residents in Japan, focusing on trends over time and specific brain structures. We analyzed data from the fourth survey (2015-2016) of the Research on Osteoarthritis/Osteoporosis Against Disability project, encompassing 2146 community residents from Japan's mountainous and coastal regions. A total of 1755 participants (81.8% of the baseline population) underwent extensive data collection including lifestyle and health questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and brain magnetic resonance imaging. The imaging data were processed to examine correlations between total brain volume, gray matter volume (GMV), white matter volume (WMV), cerebrospinal fluid volume and participant age. Analysis showed significant sex differences in total brain volume, with GMV demonstrating a strong negative correlation with age - more pronounced than the moderate negative correlation seen in WMV. Cerebrospinal fluid volume exhibited a strong positive correlation with age. Notably, specific brain regions such as the bilateral amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus and primary motor cortex showed significant age-related volume reductions. This study confirms that GMV and WMV are smaller in older individuals in the Japanese population, with more pronounced differences in GMV. The amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus and primary motor cortex were particularly affected. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; ••: ••-••.

A Novel Fuzzy Logic EMS for Hybrid Microgrids with Photovoltaic, Wind, Fuel Cell, and Energy Storage Integration

This paper presents an innovative Energy Management Strategy (EMS) for a hybrid microgrid that combines two main renewable energy sources (RESs), photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine (WT) generators working at the maximum power point (MPP) to extract the maximum available energy, and an energy storage system (ESS) based Lithium batteries to ensure DC-bus stability. This system includes a backup device based on Fuel Cell (FC) to assure system dependability and minimize blackouts, as well as power electronic converters for flexible system parts and a residential community as DC loads. The proposed EMS is based on the advanced Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC), which regulates voltage and manages power flow inside the microgrid. MATLAB/Simulink simulations were conducted to assess the performance of innovative microgrid stability strategy. A comparative analysis with conventional EMS approaches demonstrates the superior effectiveness and viability of the proposed FLC technique in energy management within microgrids. The simulation-based comparison indicates that the proposed optimization method enhances system performance and DC-bus stability.