Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso en conducta suicida: una revisión sistemática / Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on suicidal behavior: a systematic review

El suicidio se ha convertido en un problema social y de salud pública a nivel mundial. En este sentido, la Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso (ACT) podría ser eficaz en su abordaje, existiendo evidencia sobre la relación entre algunos de sus componentes y la conducta suicida. Así, el presente estudio tuvo por objetivo realizar una revisión sistemática sobre la eficacia de ACT en conducta suicida. Para ello se siguió el protocolo PRISMA, empleando las siguientes bases de datos: PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus y PsicoDoc. Inicialmente se obtuvieron 108 publicaciones potencialmente relevantes, de las cuales, finalmente, 13 fueron incluidas en la revisión. La calidad de los estudios se analizó a través de un instrumento de evaluación de riesgo de sesgos. Como resultados, a nivel general se observaron disminuciones estadísticamente significativas en ideación suicida (IS) y factores de riesgo de suicidio. Además, algunos estudios señalaron relaciones estadísticamente significativas entre un aumento de flexibilidad psicológica y la disminución de IS. Si bien los datos apuntaron a una posible eficacia de ACT en la reducción de IS, es necesario llevar a cabo mayor número de estudios experimentales que contemplen la complejidad de la conducta suicida y exploren los procesos de cambio implicados.(AU)

Suicide has emerged as a pressing global issue affecting both so-ciety and public health.In this context, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) could prove effective in its approach, supported by evi-dence of the relationship between certain components of ACT and suicidal behavior. Thus, the present study aims to conduct a systematic review on the efficacy of ACT in suicidal behavior. For this, the PRISMA protocol was followed, using thefollowing databases: PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus and PsicoDoc. Initially, 108 potentially relevant publicationswereobtained,13ofwhichwerefinallyincludedinthereview.Weanalyzedstudy qualityus-ingariskofbiasassessmentinstrument.Asaresult,statisticallysignificantdecreases in suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide risk factors were observed. In addition, some studies indicated statistically significant relationships be-tween increased psychological flexibility and decreasedSI.WhilethedatasuggestedthepotentialeffectivenessofACTinreducingsuicidal ideation (SI), more experimental studies are needed to consider the complexity of suicidal behavior and explore the processes of changeinvolved.(AU)

Creating a resilient pedagogy: Character strengths intervention for aspiring educators.

Teachers play a crucial role in guiding learners through life's challenges. They face educational and socio-economic shifts while striving to teach for a better future. Our study focuses on equipping future teachers, called pre-service teachers, with resilience-building resources during their teacher training program. A potential antecedent to resilience, which facilitates cognitive strategies and attentional processes, is cognitive flexibility. We first tested whether cognitive flexibility predicts resilience. Next, relying on the tenets of positive psychology, which studies resilience, we developed and tested the effectiveness of character strengths intervention in enhancing pre-service teachers' resilience and cognitive flexibility. An individual's belief in their ability to change personal resources could influence how an intervention manifests. Hence, we studied how mindset impacts the intervention's effect on cognitive flexibility and, thus, resilience. We adopted a multi-method approach, guided by Polk's theory of resilience, to test out objectives. Using a cross-sectional design, study one (n = 273) found that cognitive flexibility significantly predicted resilience. Study two (N = 193; nexp = 133, ncont = 60) was a multi-site field experiment. We found that intervention significantly enhanced resilience (experimental group M = 29.62, control group M = 28.33) and cognitive flexibility (experimental group M = 54.42, control group M = 52.01). Further, a growth mindset, was found to moderate the indirect effect of character strengths intervention on resilience via cognitive flexibility. The study contributes to theoretical and practical advancements in resilience. Taken together, the findings highlight the cognitive-affective-behavioural makeup of resilience and, importantly, the role of cognitive flexibility. The intervention can be seamlessly integrated into teacher training curricula for a resilient future.

Motivational dynamics of self-control.

How people respond to desires varies substantially across time and situations. Building on recent theoretical developments, we propose that motivation plays a central role in the dynamics of self-control as it unfolds across time. We illustrate the role of motivation in self-control by highlighting evidence that pursuing goals for intrinsic (vs. extrinsic) reasons plays a key role in shaping when and how people engage in self-control in service to their goals. We then expand this framework by outlining several promising directions for future research, specifically emphasizing the dynamic interplay between motivation and self-control at various stages in the regulation process. Ultimately, we posit that motivation is a key factor in helping people flexibly regulate desires in accordance with situational demands.

The relationship between corona disease anxiety and sleep disturbances and suicidal ideation in medical staff: The mediating role of resiliency and cognitive flexibility: A cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: Medical staff have experienced anxiety, sleep disturbances, and suicide due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Thus, this study examined the relationship between corona disease anxiety, sleep problems, and suicidal ideation in medical staff and how resiliency and cognitive flexibility mediate it. Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study examined medical staff. In 2022, participants were affiliated with Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Iran educational and treatment centers. Sampling was done at primary COVID-19 treatment centers. Data was collected using validated instruments. Ethics were observed during data collecting. Results: Path analysis was employed to test hypotheses. Analysis showed significant positive relationships between Corona disease anxiety and sleep disturbances (p = 0.001, ß = 0.438) and suicidal ideation (p = 0.001, ß = 0.310). Conversely, negative and significant associations were identified between resiliency and cognitive flexibility with sleep disturbances and suicidal ideation. Conclusions: The study illustrates how medical staff's psychological health is linked to COVID-19. High Corona disease anxiety causes sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. Resilience and cognitive flexibility modulated Corona disease anxiety, sleep problems, and suicidal thoughts. The comprehensive study focuses on medical staff mental health issues, suggesting targeted solutions.

Matrix-based project dataset parsers.

There are several existing project datasets, which involve separate data sources for simulated and real projects, individual and multiprojects, and single- and multimodal attributes. In addition, their file structures are heterogeneous; therefore, scholars can usually use only one dataset to test a proposed scheduling or resource allocation algorithm. Since the internal structures of these projects are also very different, it is difficult to ensure that an algorithm optimized for a given type of project will also perform well on projects with other structures. The proposed parsing method supports researchers in:•reading several types of projects: simulated, real, individual, and multiprojects, as well as single- and multimodal attributes;•considering the priorities of activities and the flexibility of their dependencies, which is essential for modeling the structural flexibility employed by agile, hybrid, and extreme project management approaches;•building a large project database for testing and comparing different scheduling and resource allocation algorithms.

The Projection-Specific Noradrenergic Modulation of Perseverative Spatial Behavior in Adult Male Rats.

Adaptive behavior relies on efficient cognitive control. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a key node within the executive prefrontal network. The reciprocal connectivity between the locus ceruleus (LC) and ACC is thought to support behavioral reorganization triggered by the detection of an unexpected change. We transduced LC neurons with either excitatory or inhibitory chemogenetic receptors in adult male rats and trained rats on a spatial task. Subsequently, we altered LC activity and confronted rats with an unexpected change of reward locations. In a new spatial context, rats with decreased noradrenaline (NA) in the ACC entered unbaited maze arms more persistently which was indicative of perseveration. In contrast, the suppression of the global NA transmission reduced perseveration. Neither chemogenetic manipulation nor inactivation of the ACC by muscimol affected the rate of learning, possibly due to partial virus transduction of the LC neurons and/or the compensatory engagement of other prefrontal regions. Importantly, we observed behavioral deficits in rats with LC damage caused by virus injection. The latter finding highlights the importance of careful histological assessment of virus-transduced brain tissue as inadvertent damage of the targeted cell population due to virus neurotoxicity or other factors might cause unwanted side effects. Although the specific role of ACC in the flexibility of spatial behavior has not been convincingly demonstrated, our results support the beneficial role of noradrenergic transmission for an optimal function of the ACC. Overall, our findings suggest the LC exerts the projection-specific modulation of neural circuits mediating the flexibility of spatial behavior.

[Evaluation of the Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Surveillance System in the Assaba region, Mauritania (2020-2022)]. / Évaluation du système de surveillance des fièvres hémorragiques virales dans la wilaya d'Assaba, Mauritanie (2020-2022).

Introduction: Several arboviral diseases have been known to be endemic (e.g., Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Rift Valley fever) or are emerging (dengue fever, chikungunya, O'nyong-nyong) in human populations in Mauritania, while others have become rare in recent years (e.g. yellow fever). Moreover, domestic animals, especially cattle, camels, goats, and sheep, are also known to be infected with some of these arboviruses (e.g. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Rift Valley fever). For these reasons, viral hemorrhagic fever surveillance in Mauritania is part of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR). However, limited information is available on the efficacy of the viral hemorrhagic fever surveillance system in the Assaba region of Mauritania. The aim of the present study was to assess the performance of the surveillance system, in particular its general utility, simplicity, flexibility, acceptability, and reactivity. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from July to August 2022 in the Assaba region with the objective of evaluating the characteristics of the system by interviewing key actors involved in the surveillance of viral hemorrhagic fevers, with a focus on Rift Valley fever and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, using questionnaires developed following the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Georgia, USA). Data from 2020-2022 on viral hemorrhagic fevers from the National Institute of Public Health laboratory were analyzed. Medians, interquartile ranges, and proportions were calculated using Epi Info® 7.2.5.0 and Excel® 2021. Results: The questionnaire was answered by all twenty-six persons involved in the viral hemorrhagic fever surveillance system in Assaba region. The majority of survey respondents found the system to be useful (51%), simple (63%), acceptable (46%), responsive (64%), and flexible (46%). An analysis of the data revealed a positive predictive value of 28% for Rift Valley Fever. The weekly distribution of cases within the wilaya indicates that the moughataa of Kiffa recorded the highest number of cases in September, with a notable weekly peak during that month in 2020. According to the analysis of the National Institute of Public Health database, cases of viral hemorrhagic fevers were promptly handled. Survey responses and database analysis revealed issues related to data quality and data management mechanisms. These limitations in the surveillance system are likely to be due to insufficient resources and training of the personnel, in particular with regards to data collection and management, which in turn led to incomplete or missing data and invalid data entry. These weak points can be ascribed, at least in part, to financial constraints and inadequate attribution of priority to arboviral diseases. Despite these limitations, disease data generated by the surveillance system were generally reliable. Conclusion: The viral hemorrhagic fever surveillance system in the Assaba region adheres to the organization and functioning of the national viral hemorrhagic fever surveillance system, which is part of the IDSR. The characteristics of utility, simplicity, responsiveness, and flexibility of the viral hemorrhagic fever surveillance system are good, but acceptability and flexibility need further improvement. The earlier the first arboviral human or animal cases are detected, the more likely an active intervention can be organized in response to the emerging epidemic or epizootic and prevent the spread of the disease. An efficient viral surveillance system is the key to reducing the negative impact of arboviral diseases in Assaba region.

Preparation and performance study of sodium alginate/bamboo fiber/gelatin ionic conductive self-healing hydrogel.

This study has been successfully developed the Sodium alginate/Bamboo fiber /Gelatin（SA/BF/Gel）composite conductive hydrogel with adhesive and self-healing properties. Through in-depth research, the influence of Gel content on the tensile, adhesive, self-healing properties, and conductivity of the SA/BF/Gel composite conductive hydrogel was discussed. The sensing performance and sensing mechanism of the material were also investigated, along with a preliminary exploration of its potential applications. An attempt was made to apply the SA/BF/Gel composite conductive hydrogel to 3D printing technology, establishing a connection between the rheological properties of the hydrogel and its printing structure. The addition of Gel significantly improved the flexibility of the hydrogel, with a conductivity of up to 3.12 S/m at a Gel content of 1.5 %. When employed as a sensor, the material exhibited high sensitivity (GF = 2.21) and excellent cyclic stability, rendering it suitable for a wide range of applications in real-time monitoring of bending movements of fingers and wrists, as well as dynamic contact and variations in contact forces on the hydrogel surface. The SA/BF/Gel composite conductive hydrogel has the potential to be utilized in a multitude of applications, including the development of smart wearable devices, the monitoring of individual human beings, and the integration of human beings and machines. Furthermore, the research findings associated with this hydrogel will provide a strong foundation for the advancement of materials science and the integration of smart technologies.

Structural basis for substrate flexibility of the O-methyltransferase MpaG' involved in mycophenolic acid biosynthesis.

MpaG' is an S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferase involved in the compartmentalized biosynthesis of mycophenolic acid (MPA), a first-line immunosuppressive drug for organ transplantations and autoimmune diseases. MpaG' catalyzes the 5-O-methylation of three precursors in MPA biosynthesis including demethylmycophenolic acid (DMMPA), 4-farnesyl-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methylphthalide (FDHMP), and an intermediate containing three fewer carbon atoms compared to FDHMP (FDHMP-3C) with different catalytic efficiencies. Here, we report the crystal structures of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH)/DMMPA-bound MpaG', SAH/FDHMP-3C-bound MpaG', and SAH/FDHMP-bound MpaG' to understand the catalytic mechanism of MpaG' and structural basis for its substrate flexibility. Structural and biochemical analyses reveal that MpaG' utilizes the catalytic dyad H306-E362 to deprotonate the C5 hydroxyl group of the substrates for the following methylation. The three substrates with differently modified farnesyl moieties are well accommodated in a large semi-open substrate binding pocket with the orientation of their phthalide moiety almost identical. Based on the structure-directed mutagenesis, a single mutant MpaG'Q267A is engineered with significantly improved catalytic efficiency for all three substrates. This study expands the mechanistic understanding and the pocket engineering strategy for O-methyltransferases involved in fungal natural product biosynthesis. Our research also highlights the potential of O-methyltransferases to modify diverse substrates by protein design and engineering.

Integrative role of attention networks in frequency-dependent modular organization of human brain.

Despite converging evidence of hierarchical organization in the cerebral cortex, with sensory-motor and association regions at opposite ends, the mechanism of such hierarchical interactions remains elusive. This organization was primarily investigated regarding the spatiotemporal dynamics of intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs). However, more effort is needed to investigate network dynamics in the frequency domain. We aimed to examine the integrative role of brain regions in the frequency domain with graph metrics. Phase-based connectivity estimation was performed in three frequency bands (0.011-0.038, 0.043-0.071, and 0.076-0.103 Hz) in the BOLD signal during rest. We applied modularity analysis to connectivity matrices and investigated those areas, which we called integrative regions, that showed frequency-domain flexibility. Integrative regions, mostly belonging to attention networks, were densely connected to higher-order cognitive ICNs in lower frequency bands but to sensory-motor ICNs in higher frequency bands. We compared the normalized participation coefficient (Pnorm) values of integrative and core regions with respect to their relation to higher-order cognition using a permutation-based t-test for multiple linear regression. Regression parameters of integrative regions in relation to three cognitive scores in executive functions, and working memory were significantly larger than those of core regions (Pfdr < 0.05) for salience ventral attention network. Parameters of integrative regions in relation to intelligence scores were significantly larger than those with core regions (Pfdr < 0.05) in dorsal attention network. Larger parameters of neuropsychological test scores in relation to these flexible parcels further indicate their essential role at an intermediate level in behavior. Results emphasize the importance of frequency-band analysis of brain networks.

Characterization of aloe vera gel incorporated unsaturated polyester resin jute-cotton fabric composites for enhanced biodegradability, flexibility, and insulation properties.

In this research, Aloe Vera Gel (AVG) was incorporated into Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR) with jute-cotton union fabric to fabricate partially biodegradable composites. These composites were fabricated using a hand lay-up technique and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetry Analysis (TGA), thermal conductivity measurements, water absorption tests, degradation assessments, cracking tests, and Universal Testing Machine (UTM) analysis. The study found that increasing the percentage of AVG in the composites led to a decrease in thermal conductivity, indicating improved insulation properties. Samples reinforced with AVG showed enhanced resistance to damage from iron nails, with reduced scratching and fiber displacement observed. However, the addition of AVG resulted in decreased thermal, mechanical, and water resistance properties compared to composites without AVG. FTIR analysis demonstrated interactions between AVG and the matrix materials. In degradation tests, composites subjected to an alkali environment (PH = 11.96) showed the highest weight reduction (2.22 %) compared to those without AVG. Similarly, composites buried in soil exhibited greater weight loss (2.38 %) than their counterparts lacking AVG. Overall, the developed composite's reduced heat transfer rate suggests its potential application as an insulating material in environments such as rural poultry housing and the automotive industry.

Alcohol, flexible behavior, and the prefrontal cortex: Functional changes underlying impaired cognitive flexibility.

Cognitive flexibility enables individuals to alter their behavior in response to changing environmental demands, facilitating optimal behavior in a dynamic world. The inability to do this, called behavioral inflexibility, is a pervasive behavioral phenotype in alcohol use disorder (AUD), driven by disruptions in cognitive flexibility. Research has repeatedly shown that behavioral inflexibility not only results from alcohol exposure across species but can itself be predictive of future drinking. Like many high-level executive functions, flexible behavior requires healthy functioning of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The scope of this review addresses two primary themes: first, we outline tasks that have been used to investigate flexibility in the context of AUD or AUD models. We characterize these based on the task features and underlying cognitive processes that differentiate them from one another. We highlight the neural basis of flexibility measures, focusing on the PFC, and how acute or chronic alcohol in humans and non-human animal models impacts flexibility. Second, we consolidate findings on the molecular, physiological and functional changes in the PFC elicited by alcohol, that may contribute to cognitive flexibility deficits seen in AUD. Collectively, this approach identifies several key avenues for future research that will facilitate effective treatments to promote flexible behavior in the context of AUD, to reduce the risk of alcohol related harm, and to improve outcomes following AUD.

Decoding Cognitive Control and Cognitive Flexibility as Concomitants for Experiential Avoidance in Social Anxiety.

Background and objectives: Avoidance is regarded as a central hallmark of social anxiety. Experiential avoidance is perilous for social anxiety, specifically among university students (young adults). Additionally, cognitive control and cognitive flexibility are crucial components of executive functions for a fulfilling and healthy lifestyle. The current research is a modest attempt to understand how cognitive flexibility and cognitive control affect the emergence of experiential avoidance in social anxiety in young adults. Methods: Using an ex-post facto design, the Social Phobia Inventory was employed to screen university students with social anxiety based on which one hundred and ninety-five were identified. Thereafter, participants completed the standardized measures on experiential avoidance, cognitive control and cognitive flexibility. Results: A stepwise multiple regression analysis was computed wherein the cognitive control predicts an amount of 5% of variance towards experiential avoidance, whereas a 10% of additional variance has been contributed by cognitive flexibility. Interpretation and Conclusions: The statistical outcome indicated that cognitive control is positively associated with experiential avoidance which is a negative correlate to cognitive flexibility among university students. Both also emerged as significant predictors of experiential avoidance and add a cumulative variance of 15% towards the same. This conclusion supports the need for improved and efficient management techniques in counseling and clinical settings.

A cross-sectional study of medial longitudinal arch development in children with different BMI.

Introduction: The influence of excess weight on the development of children's feet remains a subject of debate. To further elucidate whether this relation occurs, this study compared arch morphology and flexibility in three groups of children: underweight, normal, and overweight. Methods: In total, 1,532 children (807 boys, 725 girls; age range 7-11 years) participated in the study. The researchers measured the participants' height and weight, calculated their body mass index, and categorized their weight status as underweight, normal weight, or overweight. A three-dimensional foot model was taken using a three-dimensional plantar scanner under non-weight-bearing and weight-bearing conditions to obtain arch morphometric indices (arch index and arch volume) and arch flexibility index (arch volume index). Results: Analysis of the data showed that the arch index was higher in overweight children compared to underweight and normal weight children (p < 0.05), but the differences in arch volume and arch volume index in overweight children compared to underweight and normal weight children were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). All children were divided into flatfoot, normal, and pes cavus groups according to arch index, and the arch volume index was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Overweight was not absolutely associated with arch structure and arch flexibility in children from a three-dimensional perspective. Arch development is a long-term process, and it is not clear whether being overweight has an effect on soft tissue or bone formation. Future studies will focus on the effects of long-term overweight on foot structure and arch flexibility in children.

The Key to MOF Membrane Fabrication and Application: the Trade-off between Crystallization and Film Formation.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), owing the merits of ordered and tailored channel structures in the burgeoning crystalline porous materials, have demonstrated significant promise in construction of high-performance separation membranes. However, precisely because this crystal structure with strong molecular interaction in their lattice provides robust structural integrity and resistance to chemical and thermal degradation, crystalline MOFs typically exhibit insolubility, infusibility, stiffness and brittleness, and therefore their membrane-processing properties are far inferior to the flexible amorphous polymers and hinder their subsequent storage, transportation, and utilization. Hence, focusing on film-formation and crystallization is the foundation for exploring the fabrication and application of MOF membranes. In this review, the film-forming properties of crystalline MOFs are fundamentally analyzed from their inherent characteristics and compared with those of amorphous polymers, influencing factors of polycrystalline MOF membrane formation are summarized, the trade-off relationship between crystallization and membrane formation is discussed, and the strategy solving the film formation of crystalline MOFs in recent years are systematically reviewed, in anticipation of realizing the goal of preparing crystalline membranes with optimized processability and excellent performance.

Rational design on loop regions for precisely regulating flexibility of catalytic center to mitigate overoxidation of prazole sulfides by Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase.

S-omeprazole and R-rabeprazole are important proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) used for treating peptic disorders. They can be biosynthesized from the corresponding sulfide catalyzed by Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs). During the development of BVMOs for target sulfoxide preparation, stereoselectivity and overoxidation degree are important factors considered most. In the present study, LnPAMO-Mu15 designed previously and TtPAMO from Thermothelomyces thermophilus showed high (S)- and (R)-configuration stereoselectivity respectively towards thioethers. TtPAMO was found to be capable of oxidating omeprazole sulfide (OPS) and rabeprazole sulfide (RPS) into R-omeprazole and R-rabeprazole respectively. However, the overoxidation issue existed and limited the application of TtPAMO in the biosynthesis of sulfoxides. The structural mechanisms for adverse stereoselectivity between LnPAMO-Mu15 and TtPAMO towards OPS and the overoxidation of OPS by TtPAMO were revealed, based on which, TtPAMO was rationally designed focused on the flexibility of loops near catalytic sites. The variant TtPAMO-S482Y was screened out with lowest overoxidation degree towards OPS and RPS due to the decreased flexibility of catalytic center than TtPAMO. The success in this study not only proved the rationality of the overoxidation mechanism proposed in this study but also provided hints for the development of BVMOs towards thioether substrate for corresponding sulfoxide preparation.

Assessing metabolic flexibility response to a multifibre diet: a randomised-controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic flexibility (MetF), defined as the ability to switch between fat and glucose oxidation, is increasingly recognised as a critical marker for assessing responses to dietary interventions. Previously, we showed that the consumption of multifibre bread improved insulin sensitivity and reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) levels in overweight and obese individuals. As a secondary objective, we aimed to explore whether our intervention could also improve MetF. METHODS: In this study, 39 subjects at cardiometabolic risk participated in a double-blind, randomised, crossover trial lasting 8 weeks, repeated twice. During each phase, participants consumed either 150 g of standard bread daily or bread enriched with a mixture of seven dietary fibres. MetF response was assessed using a mixed-meal tolerance test (MMTT), analysing changes in respiratory quotient (∆RQ) measured using indirect calorimetry. RESULTS: Although there were no significant differences in ∆RQ changes induced by dietary fibre between the two diets, these changes were positively correlated with postprandial triglyceride excursion (∆TG) at baseline. Subgroup analysis of baseline fasting and postprandial plasma metabolites was conducted to characterise MetF responders. These responders exhibited higher baseline fasting LDLc levels and greater post-MMTT ∆TG. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, although dietary fibres did not directly impact MetF in this study, our findings highlight potential determinants of MetF response, warranting further investigation in dedicated future interventions.

Self-Propagating Fabrication of a 3D Graphite@rGO Film Anode for High-performance Potassium-Ion Batteries.

Graphite, with abundant resources and low cost, is regarded as a promising anode material for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). However, because of the large size of potassium ions, the intercalation/deintercalation of potassium between the interlayers of graphite results in its huge volume expansion, leading to poor cycling stability and rate performance. Herein, a self-propagating reduction strategy is adopted to fabricate a flexible, self-supporting 3D porous graphite@reduced graphene oxide (3D-G@rGO) composite film for PIBs. The 3D porous network can not only effectively mitigate the volume expansion in graphite but also provide numerous active sites for potassium storage as well as allow for electrolyte penetration and rapid ion migration. Therefore, compared to the pristine graphite anode, the flexible 3D-G@rGO film electrode exhibits greatly improved K-storage performance with a reversible capacity of 452.8 mAh g-1 at 0.1 C and a capacity retention rate of 80.4% after 100 cycles. It also presents excellent rate capability with a high specific capacity of 139.1 and 94.2 mAh g-1 maintained at 2 and 5 C, respectively. The proposed self-propagating reduction strategy to construct a three-dimensional self-supporting structure is a viable route to improve the structural stability and potassium storage performance of graphite anodes.

MSK1 is required for the experience- and ampakine-dependent enhancement of spatial reference memory and reversal learning and for the induction of Arc and BDNF.

There is considerable interest in the development of nootropics, pharmacological agents that can improve cognition across a range of both cognitive modalities and cognitive disabilities. One class of cognitive enhancers, the ampakines, has attracted particular attention by virtue of improving cognition associated with animal models of neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric conditions, as well as in age-related cognitive impairment. Ampakines elevate CNS levels of BDNF, and it is through this elevation that their beneficial actions are believed to occur. However, what transduces the elevation of BDNF into long-lasting cognitive enhancement is not known. We have previously shown that MSK1, by virtue of its ability to regulate gene transcription, converts the elevation of BDNF associated with environmental enrichment into molecular, synaptic, cognitive and genomic adaptations that underlie enrichment-induced enhanced synaptic plasticity and learning and memory, a property that MSK1 retains across the lifespan. To establish whether MSK1 similarly converts ampakine-induced elevations of BDNF into cognitive enhancement we tested an ampakine (CX929) in male WT mice and in male mice in which the kinase activity of MSK1 was inactivated. We found that MSK1 is required for the ampakine-dependent improvement in spatial reference memory and cognitive flexibility, and for the elevations of BDNF and the plasticity-related protein Arc associated with ampakines and experience. These observations implicate MSK1 as a key enabler of the beneficial effects of ampakines on cognitive function, and furthermore identify MSK1 as a hub for BDNF-elevating nootropic strategies.

Insights into One-Dimensional Thermoelectric Materials: A Concise Review of Nanowires and Nanotubes.

This brief review covers the thermoelectric properties of one-dimensional materials, such as nanowires and nanotubes. The highly localised peaks of the electronic density of states near the Fermi levels of these nanostructured materials improve the Seebeck coefficient. Moreover, quantum confinement leads to discrete energy levels and a modified density of states, potentially enhancing electrical conductivity. These electronic effects, coupled with the dominance of Umklapp phonon scattering, which reduces thermal conductivity in one-dimensional materials, can achieve unprecedented thermoelectric efficiency not seen in two-dimensional or bulk materials. Notable advancements include carbon and silicon nanotubes and Bi3Te2, Bi, ZnO, SiC, and Si1-xGex nanowires with significantly reduced thermal conductivity and increased ZT. In all these nanowires and nanotubes, efficiency is explored as a function of the diameter. Among these nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes offer mechanical flexibility and improved thermoelectric performance. Although carbon nanotubes theoretically have high thermal conductivity, the improvement of their Seebeck coefficient due to their low-dimensional structure can compensate for it. Regarding flexibility, economic criteria, ease of fabrication, and weight, carbon nanotubes could be a promising candidate for thermoelectric power generation.