Feasibility and Acceptability of a Mobile App-Based TEAM-CBT (Testing Empathy Assessment Methods-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) Intervention (Feeling Good) for Depression: Secondary Data Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The Feeling Good App is an automated stand-alone digital mobile mental health tool currently undergoing beta testing with the goal of providing evidence-informed self-help lessons and exercises to help individuals reduce depressive symptoms without guidance from a mental health provider. Users work through intensive basic training (IBT) and ongoing training models that provide education regarding cognitive behavioral therapy principles from a smartphone. OBJECTIVE: The key objective of this study was to perform a nonsponsored third-party academic assessment of an industry-generated data set; this data set focused on the safety, feasibility, and accessibility of a commercial automated digital mobile mental health app that was developed to reduce feelings associated with depression. METHODS: The Feeling Good App development team created a waitlist cohort crossover design and measured symptoms of depression and anxiety using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and an app-specific measure of negative feelings called the 7 Dimension Emotion Slider (7-DES). The waitlist cohort crossover design divided the participants into 2 groups, where 48.6% (141/290) of the participants were given immediate access to the apps, while 51.4% (149/290) were placed on a 2-week waitlist before being given access to the app. Data collected by the Feeling Good App development team were deidentified and provided to the authors of this paper for analysis through a nonsponsored university data use agreement. All quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics (version 28.0; IBM Corp). Descriptive statistics were calculated for demographic variables. Feasibility and acceptability were descriptively assessed. All participants included in the quantitative data were given access to the Feeling Good App; this study did not include a control group. RESULTS: In terms of safety, there was no statistically significant change in suicidality from preintervention to postintervention time points (t288=0.0; P>.99), and there was a statistically significant decrease in hopelessness from preintervention to postintervention time points (F289=30.16; P<.01). In terms of acceptability, 72.2% (166/230) of the users who started the initial 2-day IBT went on to complete it, while 34.8% (80/230) of the users who started IBT completed the entirety of the apps' 4-week protocol (150/230, 65.22% dropout rate over 4 weeks). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first reported proof-of-concept evaluation of the Feeling Good App in terms of safety, feasibility, and statistical trends within the data set. It demonstrates a feasible and novel approach to industry and academic collaboration in the process of developing a digital mental health technology translated from an existing evidence-informed treatment. The results support the prototype app as safe for a select nonclinical population. The app had acceptable levels of engagement and dropouts throughout the intervention. Those who stay engaged showed reductions in symptom severity of depression warranting further investigation of the app's efficacy.

Hidden Markov Models reveal a clear human footprint on the movements of highly mobile African wild dogs.

Large carnivores have experienced considerable range contraction, increasing the importance of movement across human-altered landscapes between small, isolated populations. African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) are exceptionally wide-ranging, and recolonization is an important element of their persistence at broad scales. The competition-movement-connection hypothesis suggests that adaptations to move through areas that are unfavorable due to dominant competitors might promote the ability of subordinate competitors (like wild dogs) to move through areas that are unfavorable due to humans. Here, we used hidden Markov models to test how wild dog movements were affected by the Human Footprint Index in areas inside and outside of South Luangwa National Park. Movements were faster and more directed when outside the National Park, but slowed where the human footprint was stronger. Our results can be directly and quantitatively applied to connectivity planning, and we use them to identify ways to better understand differences between species in recent loss of connectivity.

Preclinical in Vitro and in Vivo Assessment of Linear and Branched l-Valine-Based Poly(ester urea)s for Soft Tissue Applications.

New polymers are needed to address the shortcomings of commercially available materials for soft tissue repair. Herein, we investigated a series of l-valine-based poly(ester urea)s (PEUs) that vary in monomer composition and the extent of branching as candidate materials for soft tissue repair. The preimplantation Young's moduli (105 ± 30 to 269 ± 12 MPa) for all the PEUs are comparable to those of polypropylene (165 ± 5 MPa) materials currently employed in hernia-mesh repair. The 2% branched poly(1-VAL-8) maintained the highest Young's modulus following 3 months of in vivo implantation (78 ± 34 MPa) when compared to other PEU analogues (20 ± 6-45 ± 5 MPa). Neither the linear or branched PEUs elicited a significant inflammatory response in vivo as noted by less fibrous capsule formation after 3 months of implantation (80 ± 38 to 103 ± 33 µm) relative to polypropylene controls (126 ± 34 µm). Mechanical degradation in vivo over three months, coupled with limited inflammatory response, suggests that l-valine-based PEUs are translationally relevant materials for soft tissue applications.

Underperformance of African protected area networks and the case for new conservation models: insights from Zambia.

Many African protected areas (PAs) are not functioning effectively. We reviewed the performance of Zambia's PA network and provide insights into how their effectiveness might be improved. Zambia's PAs are under-performing in ecological, economic and social terms. Reasons include: a) rapidly expanding human populations, poverty and open-access systems in Game Management Areas (GMAs) resulting in widespread bushmeat poaching and habitat encroachment; b) underfunding of the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) resulting in inadequate law enforcement; c) reliance of ZAWA on extracting revenues from GMAs to cover operational costs which has prevented proper devolution of user-rights over wildlife to communities; d) on-going marginalization of communities from legal benefits from wildlife; e) under-development of the photo-tourism industry with the effect that earnings are limited to a fraction of the PA network; f) unfavourable terms and corruption which discourage good practice and adequate investment by hunting operators in GMAs; g) blurred responsibilities regarding anti-poaching in GMAs resulting in under-investment by all stakeholders. The combined effect of these challenges has been a major reduction in wildlife densities in most PAs and the loss of habitat in GMAs. Wildlife fares better in areas with investment from the private and/or NGO sector and where human settlement is absent. There is a need for: elevated government funding for ZAWA; greater international donor investment in protected area management; a shift in the role of ZAWA such that they focus primarily on national parks while facilitating the development of wildlife-based land uses by other stakeholders elsewhere; and new models for the functioning of GMAs based on joint-ventures between communities and the private and/or NGO sector. Such joint-ventures should provide defined communities with ownership of land, user-rights over wildlife and aim to attract long-term private/donor investment. These recommendations are relevant for many of the under-funded PAs occurring in other African countries.

An assessment of the effects of shell cross-linked nanoparticle size, core composition, and surface PEGylation on in vivo biodistribution.

Amphiphilic core-shell nanoparticles have drawn considerable interest in biomedical applications. The precise control over their physicochemical parameters and the ability to attach various ligands within specific domains suggest shell cross-linked (SCK) nanoparticles may be used as multi-/polyvalent scaffolds for drug delivery. In this study, the biodistribution of four SCKs, differing in size, core composition, and surface PEGylation, was evaluated. To facilitate in-vivo tracking of the SCKs, the positron-emitting radionuclide copper-64 was used. By using biodistribution and microPET imaging approaches, we found that small diameter (18 nm) SCKs possessing a polystyrene core showed the most favorable biological behavior in terms of prolonged blood retention and low liver accumulation. The data demonstrated that both core composition, which influenced the SCK flexibility and shape adaptability, and hydrodynamic diameter of the nanoparticle play important roles in the respective biodistributions. Surface modification with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) had no noticeable effects on SCK behavior.

Migration, cultural bereavement and cultural identity.

Migration has contributed to the richness in diversity of cultures, ethnicities and races in developed countries. Individuals who migrate experience multiple stresses that can impact their mental well being, including the loss of cultural norms, religious customs, and social support systems, adjustment to a new culture and changes in identity and concept of self. Indeed, the rates of mental illness are increased in some migrant groups. Mental health practitioners need to be attuned to the unique stresses and cultural aspects that affect immigrants and refugees in order to best address the needs of this increasing and vulnerable population. This paper will review the concepts of migration, cultural bereavement and cultural identity, and explore the interrelationship between these three aspects of the migrant's experience and cultural congruity. The complex interplay of the migration process, cultural bereavement, cultural identity, and cultural congruity, along with biological, psychological and social factors, is hypothesized as playing a major role in the increased rates of mental illness in affected migrant groups.