The benefits of socioemotional learning strategies and video formats for older digital immigrants learning a novel smartphone application.

The need to continually learn and adjust to new technology can be an arduous demand, particularly for older adults who did not grow up with digital technology ("older digital immigrants" or ODIs). This study tests the efficacy of socioemotional learning strategies (i.e., encoding information in a socially- or emotionally-meaningful way) for ODIs learning a new software application from an instructional video (Experiment 1) or a written manual (Experiment 2). An experiment-by-condition effect was identified, where memory was greatest for participants engaging socioemotional learning strategies while learning from a video, suggesting a synergistic effect of these manipulations. These findings serve as a first step toward identifying and implementing an optimal learning context for ODIs to learn new technologies in everyday life.

Direct Numerical Solutions to Stochastic Differential Equations with Multiplicative Noise.

Inspired by path integral solutions to the quantum relaxation problem, we develop a numerical method to solve classical stochastic differential equations with multiplicative noise that avoids averaging over trajectories. To test the method, we simulate the dynamics of a classical oscillator multiplicatively coupled to non-Markovian noise. When accelerated using tensor factorization techniques, it accurately estimates the transition into the bifurcation regime of the oscillator and outperforms trajectory-averaging simulations with a computational cost that is orders of magnitude lower.

Parasympathetic regulation and support from family and friends predict prosocial development in U.S. Mexican-origin adolescents.

Both parasympathetic nervous system regulation and receipt of social support from close relationships contribute to prosocial development, although few studies have examined their combined influences in adolescence and particularly within racially and ethnically minoritized populations. In this longitudinal study of 229 U.S. Mexican-origin adolescents (48% female-identifying), youths reported on receipt of social support from family and friends from 10 to 16 years, had their baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) measured at 17 years, reported their prosocial behavior and completed the Mind in the Eyes test to assess cognitive empathy at 17 and 19 years, and reported their prosocial civic behavior (i.e., community activity) at 19 years. Family social support predicted prosocial behavior at 17 years, and friend social support predicted prosocial civic behavior at 19 years. Compared to youths with lower or higher baseline RSA, youths with moderate RSA reported more prosocial civic behavior, had greater cognitive empathy, and tended to report more general prosocial behavior at 19 years. The quadratic association between baseline RSA and cognitive empathy was stronger for youths with greater family social support. These findings are the first to extend the evidence that moderate baseline parasympathetic nervous system activity supports prosocial development into late adolescence and with the U.S. Mexican-origin community, and these findings address calls for more integrative biopsychosocial studies of prosociality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Patient-specific quality assurance of dynamically-collimated proton therapy treatment plans.

BACKGROUND: The dynamic collimation system (DCS) provides energy layer-specific collimation for pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton therapy using two pairs of orthogonal nickel trimmer blades. While excellent measurement-to-calculation agreement has been demonstrated for simple cube-shaped DCS-trimmed dose distributions, no comparison of measurement and dose calculation has been made for patient-specific treatment plans. PURPOSE: To validate a patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) process for DCS-trimmed PBS treatment plans and evaluate the agreement between measured and calculated dose distributions. METHODS: Three intracranial patient cases were considered. Standard uncollimated PBS and DCS-collimated treatment plans were generated for each patient using the Astroid treatment planning system (TPS). Plans were recalculated in a water phantom and delivered at the Miami Cancer Institute (MCI) using an Ion Beam Applications (IBA) dedicated nozzle system and prototype DCS. Planar dose measurements were acquired at two depths within low-gradient regions of the target volume using an IBA MatriXX ion chamber array. RESULTS: Measured and calculated dose distributions were compared using 2D gamma analysis with 3%/3 mm criteria and low dose threshold of 10% of the maximum dose. Median gamma pass rates across all plans and measurement depths were 99.0% (PBS) and 98.3% (DCS), with a minimum gamma pass rate of 88.5% (PBS) and 91.2% (DCS). CONCLUSIONS: The PSQA process has been validated and experimentally verified for DCS-collimated PBS. Dosimetric agreement between the measured and calculated doses was demonstrated to be similar for DCS-collimated PBS to that achievable with noncollimated PBS.

A new semi-fossorial thescelosaurine dinosaur from the Cenomanian-age Mussentuchit Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah.

Thescelosaurines are a group of early diverging, ornithischian dinosaurs notable for their conservative bauplans and mosaic of primitive features. Although abundant within the latest Cretaceous ecosystems of North America, their record is poor to absent in earlier assemblages, leaving a large gap in our understanding of their evolution, origins, and ecological roles. Here we report a new small bodied thescelosaurine-Fona herzogae gen. et sp. nov.-from the Mussentuchit Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah, USA. Fona herzogae is represented by multiple individuals, representing one of the most comprehensive skeletal assemblages of a small bodied, early diverging ornithischian described from North America to date. Phylogenetic analysis recovers Fona as the earliest member of Thescelosaurinae, minimally containing Oryctodromeus, and all three species of Thescelosaurus, revealing the clade was well-established in North America by as early as the Cenomanian, and distinct from, yet continental cohabitants with, their sister clade, Orodrominae. To date, orodromines and thescelosaurines have not been found together within a single North American ecosystem, suggesting different habitat preferences or competitive exclusion. Osteological observations reveal extensive intraspecific variation across cranial and postcranial elements, and a number of anatomical similarities with Oryctodromeus, suggesting a shared semi-fossorial lifestyle.

Management of Proximal Hamstring Injuries: Non-operative and Operative Treatment.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To evaluate the current evidence and literature on treatment options for proximal hamstring injuries. RECENT FINDINGS: Patients with 3-tendon complete tears with greater than 2 cm of retraction have worse outcomes and higher complication rates compared to those with less severe injuries. Endoscopic and open proximal hamstring repair both have favorable patient reported outcomes at 5-year follow up. Proximal hamstring repair in patients who are male, with isolated semimembranosus injury, and have proximal hamstring free tendon rupture are more likely to have earlier return to sports. The Parisian Hamstring Avulsion Score (PHAS) is a validated patient-reported outcome measure to predict return to sports. Proximal hamstring injuries may occur in both elite and recreational athletes and may present with varying degrees of chronicity and severity. Injuries occur most commonly during forceful eccentric contraction of the hamstrings and often present with ischial tuberosity tenderness, ecchymosis, and hamstring weakness. Treatment decision-making is dictated by the tendons involved and chronicity. Many proximal hamstring injuries can be successfully treated with non-surgical measures. However, operative treatment of appropriately indicated proximal hamstring tendon injuries can result in significantly better functional outcomes and faster and more reliable return to sports compared to nonoperative treatment. Both endoscopic and open surgical repair techniques show high satisfaction levels and excellent patient-reported outcomes at short- and mid-term follow-up. Postoperative rehabilitation protocols vary across the literature and ongoing study is needed to clarify the optimal program, though emphasis on eccentric hamstring strengthening may be beneficial.

Secretory factors released from high dose radiation-activated osteoclasts increase the expression level of pain-associated neuropeptides in sensory neuronal cultures.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for lung tumors near the chest wall often causes significant chest wall pain (CWP), negatively impacting patients' quality of life. The mechanisms behind SBRT-induced CWP remain unclear and may involve multiple factors. We investigated the potential crosstalk between radiation-activated osteoclasts and sensory neurons, focusing on osteoclast-derived factors in CWP. Using the murine pre-osteoclast cell line Raw264.7, we induced differentiation with RANKL, followed by 10Gy gamma-irradiation. Conditioned media from these irradiated osteoclasts was used to treat sensory neuronal cultures from mouse dorsal root ganglia. Neuronal cultures were also directly exposed to 10Gy radiation, with and without osteoclast co-culture. Analysis of osteoclast markers and pain-associated neuropeptides was conducted using RT-qPCR and histochemical staining. Osteoclast differentiation and activity were inhibited using Osteoprotegerin and risedronate. Results showed that high-dose radiation significantly increased osteoclast size, resorption pit size, and activity biomarkers. Neurons treated with CM from irradiated osteoclasts showed increased expression of pain-associated neuropeptides CGRP and Substance P, which was mitigated by osteoprotegerin and risedronate. This study suggests that high-dose radiation enhances osteoclast activity, upregulating pain-associated neuropeptides in sensory neurons, and that inhibitors like osteoprotegerin and risedronate may offer therapeutic strategies for managing radiation-induced pain.

Acute inorganic nitrate ingestion does not impact oral microbial composition, cognitive function, or high-intensity exercise performance in female team-sport athletes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of acute nitrate (NO3-)-rich beetroot juice ingestion on explosive and high-intensity exercise performance, oral microbiota composition, and cognitive flexibility (i.e., function), before and after maximal intermittent running exercise. Fifteen women team-sport athletes were assigned in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design to consume concentrated NO3--depleted beetroot juice (PL; 0.1 mmol NO3-) and NO3--rich beetroot juice (BR; 12.0 mmol NO3-) 2.5 h prior to performing a battery of exercise performance tasks and cognitive testing before and after the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 (YYIR1) running test. Resting plasma [NO3-] and plasma nitrite ([NO2-]) were elevated following BR (P < 0.001). BR did not impact global composition or relative abundance of taxa in the oral microbiome (P > 0.05) or cognitive flexibility before or after exercise (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in performance during 20-m (PRE, PL: 4.38 ± 0.27 vs. BR: 4.38 ± 0.32 s; POST, PL: 4.45 ± 0.29 vs. BR: 4.43 ± 0.35 s) and 10-m sprints (PRE, PL 2.78 ± 0.15 vs. BR 2.79 ± 0.18 s; POST, PL: 2.82 ± 0.16 vs. BR: 2.81 ± 0.19 s), isokinetic handgrip dynamometry, medicine ball throw, horizontal countermovement jump, or YYIR1 (PL: 355 ± 163 m vs. BR: 368 ± 184 m) between BR and PL (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that acute dietary NO3- may not influence the oral microbiome, explosive and high-intensity exercise performance, or cognitive function in women team-sport athletes.

The Spectrum of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: Emerging Pathophysiologic Constructs and Management Strategies.

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a spectrum of disorders that affect small arterioles, venules, cortical and leptomeningeal vessels, perivascular spaces, and the integrity of neurovascular unit, blood brain barrier, and surrounding glia and neurons. CSVD is an important cause of lacunar ischemic stroke and sporadic hemorrhagic stroke, as well as dementia-which will constitute some of the most substantive population and public health challenges over the next century. This article provides an overview of updated pathophysiologic frameworks of CSVD; discusses common and underappreciated clinical and neuroimaging manifestations of CSVD; and reviews emerging genetic risk factors linked to sporadic CSVD.

Dependent Competing Failure Processes in Reliability Systems.

This paper deals with a reliability system hit by three types of shocks ranked as harmless, critical, or extreme, depending on their magnitudes, being below H1, between H1 and H2, and above H2, respectively. The system's failure is caused by a single extreme shock or by a total of N critical shocks. In addition, the system fails under occurrences of M pairs of shocks with lags less than some δ (δ-shocks) in any order. Thus, the system fails when one of the three named cumulative damages occurs first. Thus, it fails due to the competition of the three associated shock processes. We obtain a closed-form joint distribution of the time-to-failure, shock count upon failure, δ-shock count, and cumulative damage to the system on failure, to name a few. In particular, the reliability function directly follows from the marginal distribution of the failure time. In a modified system, we restrict δ-shocks to those with small lags between consecutive harmful shocks. We treat the system as a generalized random walk process and use an embellished variant of discrete operational calculus developed in our earlier work. We demonstrate analytical tractability of our formulas which are also validated, through Monte Carlo simulation.

Primary Embolization of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations With Intention to Cure: A Systematic Review of Literature and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The treatment of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) involves multiple approaches, including embolization, microsurgical resection, and radiosurgery. With the advent of new embolisates, dual-lumen balloon catheters, detachable tip microcatheters, and transvenous embolization, endovascular AVM obliteration has become more effective. Although adjuvant embolization and embolization are commonly used, the safety and effectiveness of curative embolization remain unclear. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature review using PubMed, Ovid Medline, and Web of Science to identify studies reporting outcomes in patients with AVMs who underwent primary embolization with the intention to cure. We collected data on patient characteristics, AVM features, complications, and radiographic and clinical outcomes for meta-analysis. RESULTS: We identified 25 studies with a total of 1425 patients with 1427 AVMs who underwent curative embolization. Of these patients, 70% were low grade (pooled = 61% [39-82]), 67% were <3 cm (pooled = 78% [60-92]), and 75% were in superficial locations (pooled = 80% [72-86]). At last radiographic follow-up (mean, 16.7 ± 10.9 months), the full obliteration rate was 52% (pooled = 61% [43-77]) and retreatment rate was 25% (pooled = 17% [8.3-27]). At last clinical follow-up (mean, 24.2 ± 13.3 months), the poor clinical outcome rate was 7.9% (pooled = 4.4% [1.3-8.7]) and symptomatic complication rate was 13% (pooled = 13% [8-19]). There was no significant difference in the rate of radiographic cure, need for retreatment, and poor outcomes between ruptured and unruptured AVMs. Symptomatic complications were more common in the treatment of unruptured AVMs. The primary outcomes showed high heterogeneity (I2 = 72%-94%). CONCLUSION: Curative embolization of AVM is primarily reserved for small and low-grade AVMs, with highly variable outcomes. Our findings suggest poor radiographic outcomes and increased risk of complications. Outcomes are highly dependent on patient selection and technique used. Large multicenter prospective studies are required to further guide patient selection, categorize clinical and radiographic outcomes, and identify subgroup of patients that may benefit from curative embolization.

Indices of exercise induced muscle damage following low load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction in untrained males.

BACKGROUND: There is conflicting evidence regarding the presence and magnitude of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) following low-load resistance training with blood flow restriction (LL+BFR), which may be related to the protocol implemented or exercise volume. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of a 75 repetition (BFR-75) (1×30, 3×15) and four sets to volitional failure (BFR-4x) protocols on indices of EIMD among untrained men. METHODS: Twelve males with no history of lower-body resistance training during the previous six months volunteered for this investigation. One leg was randomly assigned to BFR-75, and the other to BFR-4x. Participants performed isokinetic, unilateral, concentric-eccentric, leg extension muscle actions at 30% of maximal strength with BFR. Indices of EIMD (limb circumference, perceived muscle soreness, pain pressure threshold [PPT], passive range of motion, and maximal strength [MVIC]) were recorded before exercise and 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96-hours post-exercise for each protocol. RESULTS: There were no significant changes (P>0.05) in limb circumference, PPT, passive range of motion, or MVIC. For both BFR-75 and BFR-4x, perceived muscle soreness increased (P<0.001) similarly 24- (2.5±1.7 AU) and 48-hours (1.9±1.7 AU) post-exercise. CONCLUSIONS: There was an increase in muscle soreness 24-48 hours post-exercise for both conditions, which may be due to metabolic stress, but this did not affect the force-generating capacity of the muscle (MVIC), suggesting minimal EIMD. The conflicting evidence of EIMD following LL+BFR may be related to differences in restriction time or overall exercise time.

Hardware and software solutions for implementing nanospray desorption electrospray ionization (nano-DESI) sources on commercial mass spectrometers.

Nanospray desorption electrospray ionization (nano-DESI) is an ambient ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) approach that enables spatial mapping of biological and environmental samples with high spatial resolution and throughput. Because nano-DESI has not yet been commercialized, researchers develop their own sources and interface them with different commercial mass spectrometers. Previously, several protocols focusing on the fabrication of nano-DESI probes have been reported. In this tutorial, we discuss different hardware requirements for coupling the nano-DESI source to commercial mass spectrometers, such as the safety interlock, inlet extension, and contact closure. In addition, we describe the structure of our custom software for controlling the nano-DESI MSI platform and provide detailed instructions for its usage. With this tutorial, interested researchers should be able to implement nano-DESI experiments in their labs.

Saturated fatty acids negatively affect musculoskeletal tissues in vitro and in vivo.

Fish oils rank among the world's most popular nutritional supplements and are purported to have numerous health benefits. Previous work suggested that fish oils increase collagen production; however, the effect of fish oils on musculoskeletal health is poorly understood. Further, the divergent effects of omega-3 (Ω3FA) and saturated fatty acids (SFA) remains poorly understood. We tested the effects of Ω3FA and SFAs on in vitro-engineered human ligament (EHL) function. EHLs were treated with bovine serum albumin (BSA)-conjugated eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5(n-3)), palmitic acid (PA, 16:0), or a BSA control for 6 days. EPA did not significantly alter, whereas PA significantly decreased EHL function and collagen content. To determine whether this was an in vitro artifact, mice were fed a control or high-lard diet for 14 weeks and musculoskeletal mass, insulin sensitivity, and the collagen content, and mechanics of tendon and bone were determined. Body weight was 40 % higher on a HFD, but muscle, tendon, and bone mass did not keep up with body weight resulting in relative losses in muscle mass, tendon, and bone collagen, as well as mechanical properties. Importantly, we show that PA acutely decreases collagen synthesis in vitro to a similar extent as the decrease in collagen content with chronic treatment. These data suggest that Ω3FAs have a limited effect on EHLs, whereas SFA exert a negative effect on collagen synthesis resulting in smaller and weaker musculoskeletal tissues both in vitro and in vivo.

Local recurrence rates of superficial versus deep soft tissue sarcoma.

INTRODUCTION: Soft tissue sarcomas are a group of malignancies that commonly occur in the extremities. As deep lesions may exist within the confines of the muscular fascia, we postulate that local recurrence rates are higher for superficial soft tissue sarcomas managed by the standard of care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 90 patients who underwent surgical resection of soft tissue sarcomas of the extremity from 2007 to 2015. Patients with minimum 2-year follow-up and adequate operative, pathologic, and clinical outcomes data were included. RESULTS: Mean age was 54 ± 18 years with 49 (54.4%) patients being male. Lesions in 77.8% of cases were deep, and 22.2% were superficial to fascia. Following the index surgical resection, a total of 33 (36.7%) patients had positive margins. A total of 17 (18.9%) patients had a local recurrence. Overall, 3-year survival was 92.7%, and 5-year survival was 79.0%. Five-year recurrence-free survival of deep sarcomas was 91.1% versus 58.2% of superficial lesions (p = 0.006). Patients with higher tumor depth had lower odds of experiencing a local recurrence (HR 0.26 [95% CI 0.09-0.72]). Local recurence rates was also associated with positive surgical margins on initial resection (33.3% versus 12.3%) (p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: In this series, superficial tumor depth was associated with local recurrence of soft tissue sarcomas of the extremity following surgical resection. Positive surgical margins was also associated with local recurrence.