The impact of social support for older adults in nursing homes on successful aging: a moderated mediation model.

Objective: To investigate the connection between social support (SS) and successful aging (SA) in older adults residing in nursing homes, examining the mediating role of meaning in life (MIL). Additionally, this study aims to assess whether frailty moderates the mediation model. Methods: A cross-sectional survey approach was employed to recruit older adults from six nursing homes in Sichuan Province between August 2022 and December 2022. Questionnaires, including the General Information Questionnaire, Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), and Successful Aging Inventory (SAI), were administered. Data obtained from the completed questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS and its macro program PROCESS. Results: SS emerged as a noteworthy positive predictor of SA in older adults of nursing homes. MIL was identified as a partial mediator in the link between SS and SA. Furthermore, frailty attenuated the positive predictive impact of MIL on SA and moderated the latter part of the mediation model, wherein SS influences SA through MIL. The influence of MIL on SA was more pronounced in older adults with lower frailty levels in nursing homes, while it was diminished in those with higher levels of frailty. Conclusion: Apart from ensuring the availability of essential medical resources in long-term care for older adults, workers in nursing homes should also recognize the significance of "spiritual aging" to cultivate a sense of MIL among older adults. Simultaneously, attention must be directed toward screening for frailty indicators in older adults. Psychological care and physical exercise programs should be intensified for older adults with a high level of frailty, aiming to decelerate the progression of frailty in nursing home residents. This approach leverages the mediating role of MIL and the moderating influence of frailty, ultimately enhancing SA and promoting healthy aging in older adults within nursing home settings.

The experiences of adjuvant endocrine therapy for women breast cancer survivors: A literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) is commonly recommended for non-metastatic breast cancer survivors. However, the side-effects associated with AET can have a negative impact on survivors' functional status and quality of life. Understanding the factors influencing adherence to AET is crucial in improving its utilization among female breast cancer survivors. CONCLUSIONS: This literature review critically evaluated 15 articles to explore the experiences of female breast cancer survivors in adhering to and persisting with AET. The findings highlight that while AET can cause drug side-effects, the involvement of healthcare professionals (HCP) plays a significant role in facilitating better use of AET. Unfortunately, many HCP fail to discuss vital information related to AET or provide guidance on managing side-effects and daily medication. Consequently, survivors often lack guidance in these areas. Despite experiencing discomfort, survivors maintain a positive attitude towards using AET and employ self-management strategies and social networks to overcome barriers. The impact of HCP on AET adherence among female breast cancer survivors is substantial. Future research should focus on understanding perspectives that promote HCP involvement, which will inform practical intervention strategies in clinical practice.

4H-Silicon Carbide as an Acoustic Material for MEMS.

This article discusses the potential of 4H-silicon carbide (SiC) as a superior acoustic material for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), particularly for high-performance resonator and extreme environments applications. Through a comparison of the crystalline structure along with the mechanical, acoustic, electrical, and thermal properties of 4H with respect to other SiC polytypes and silicon, it is shown that 4H-SiC possesses salient properties for MEMS applications, including its transverse isotropy and small phonon scattering dissipation. The utility and implementation of bonded SiC on insulator (4H-SiCOI) substrates as an emerging MEMS technology platform are presented. Additionally, this article reports on the temperature-dependent mechanical properties of 4H-SiC, including the temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) and quality factor ( Q -factor) for Lamé mode resonators. Finally, the 4H-SiC MEMS fabrication including its deep reactive ion etching is discussed. This article provides valuable insights into the potential of 4H-SiC as a mechanoacoustic material and provides a foundation for future research in the field.