Framework proposal for Role-Playing Games as mental health intervention: the Critical Skills methodology.

Gamified interventions are an emerging approach in mental health treatment and prevention. Their positive effects on managing various clinical conditions stem from enhancing social skills. However, cost-effective options like Table-top Role-Playing Games (TTRPGs), which offer similar benefits to other game-based interventions, lack standardized methods for ensuring replicability. In this regard, the method outlined in this study endeavors, in a structured and guided manner drawing from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), to establish a six-step protocol for developing an intervention method utilizing TTRPGs. In all Steps, we aim to anchor ourselves in robust literature concerning social skills training (SST), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and gamification comprehensively. Thus, the method presented encompasses the objectives of SST, the strategies of CBT, and the dynamics of gamification via TTRPGs. Furthermore, we demonstrate a possible application of the method to illustrate its feasibility. Ultimately, the final method is structured, evidence-based, easily applicable, cost-effective, and thus viable. Mental health professionals seeking a structured and instructional tool for protocol development will find support in the method proposed here.

Particulate beta-tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite doped with silver promote in vitro osteoblast differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells.

BACKGROUND: Calcium phosphates including ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HAp) have been widely used for bone regeneration application because of their high osteoconductive activities. In addition, various kinds of inorganic ions enhance differentiation, proliferation, and mineralization of osteoblasts. However, information about the effects of silver-doped ß-TCP [ß-TCP (Ag)] and HAp [HAp (Ag)] particles on osteogenic differentiation is not available yet. OBJECTIVE: We focused on the impact of ß-TCP (Ag) and HAp (Ag) particles on the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast precursor cells. METHODS: MC3T3-E1 osteoblast precursor cells were pre-treated by ß-TCP (Ag) or HAp (Ag). And then the medium was changed to differentiation medium. Subsequently, osteoblast differentiation-related markers were determined. RESULTS: We found that treatment with ß-TCP (Ag) or HAp (Ag) particles increased alkaline phosphatase activity in MC3T3-E1 cells. Expression of osteoblast differentiation-related genes also increased after treatment with ß-TCP (Ag) or HAp (Ag) particles, a response thought to be regulated by zinc finger-containing transcription factor osterix. The ratio of the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) to osteoprotegerin (OPG) was decreased by ß-TCP (Ag) and HAp (Ag) particles. CONCLUSION: Silver doping of ß-TCP and HAp particles is effective for bone regeneration.

Comparison of proinflammatory potential of needle-shaped materials: aragonite and potassium titanate whisker.

Among the crystal forms of calcium carbonate, aragonite has needle-like shape. Although materials with needle-shaped crystals are associated with pulmonary toxicity, the toxic activity of aragonite is unclear. Therefore, proinflammatory potential of aragonite, neutralized aragonite and potassium titanate whisker was evaluated. The cellular effects of aragonite were weaker than those of potassium titanate whisker. Aragonite treatment induced the expression of chemokines in A549 cells and macrophages. Although aragonite exhibited proinflammatory effects in vitro, pulmonary inflammation was not observed in vivo after intratracheal administration of aragonite in mice. We did not observe the induction of inflammatory cytokine secretion or tissue lesion in the lungs of mice after administration of aragonite. Potassium titanate whisker treatment induced chemokine secretion in vitro. An increase in the number of neutrophils was observed in the mice lung tissue after administration of potassium titanate whisker. Aragonite and neutralized aragonite both induced an increase in the levels of intracellular calcium, but the levels were significantly higher in cells treated with aragonite than in cells treated with neutralized aragonite. These results suggested that intracellular calcium release mediates the cellular effects of aragonite. The toxicity of aragonite based on its needle-like structure was also not observed.

Extremely slow charge fluctuations in the metallic state of the two-dimensional molecular conductor theta-(BEDT-TTF)2RbZn(SCN)4.

Large charge disproportionation has been confirmed in the metallic state of a 1/4-filled organic conductor theta-(BEDT-TTF)2RbZn(SCN)4 by means of 13C-NMR analysis on a selectively 13C-enriched single crystal sample. By comparing the homogeneous and inhomogeneous linewidths, the temperature dependence of the extremely slow dynamics of charge fluctuations has been determined first. The exotic nature of the metallic state of this salt is discussed.