Carbonate-Metal Reactions in the Lower Mantle.

Carbonates are important carbon-bearing phases in the mantle. While their role in upper mantle petrologic processes has been well studied, their effect on phase relations, melting, and transport properties in the lower mantle is less understood. The stability of carbonates in the mantle depends on a host of factors, including pressure, temperature, oxygen fugacity, and reactions with surrounding mantle phases. To understand the stability of carbonates in the presence of metal in the lower mantle, carbonate-metal reaction experiments on the Fe-Si-Ca-Mg-C-O system were conducted up to 124 GPa and 3200 K. We find that carbonates react with iron alloys to form silicates, iron carbides, and oxides. However, the temperature at which these reactions occur increases with pressure, indicating that along a geotherm in the lowermost mantle carbonates are the stable carbon-bearing phase. Carbon is found to be less siderophilic at high-pressure compared to silicon.

The Reel Health Care Professionals of Instagram: A Systematic Review.

Social media and health research have covered the benefits for the public and patients as users. Specifically, this has focused on searching for health information, connecting with others experiencing similar health issues, and communicating with their health professionals. Recently, there has been a shift in research to focus on health care professionals as users as they participate in professional development, improve communication with patients, and contribute to health research and service. However, such research has predominantly focused on text-based platforms, namely Facebook and Twitter. The scope of this article is a systematic review of publications on health care professionals' use of the image-based platform Instagram, according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. This study, drawing from 51 articles, shows how health care professionals use Instagram, and reveals that these professionals utilize the platform to address health concerns that may not necessarily align with their specific expertise. Images were the common format of posts created by health care professionals, with six content types identified: (a) educational, (b) promotional, (c) patient experience, (d) personal, (e) emotion based, and (f) other. Three measures of post engagement were used by researchers, including (a) likes and comments, (b) use of hashtags, and (c) number of followers. This study also identified the dangers of misleading users, including (a) lack of credentials reported, (b) edited images, (c) quality of content, and (d) patient and client confidentiality issues. In conclusion, insights into the advantages of health care professionals' use of Instagram and ways in which they can maximize its use to reach and engage with their target audience are provided.

Health Professionals' Use of Online Communities for Interprofessional Peer Education.

Online communities in health care are well established as technologies for facilitating interactions between patients with common conditions and communication between patients and health professionals. Less well known is how health professionals use these platforms to connect with their peers, particularly for interprofessional education or support. We present early results from our exploratory international mixed methods (survey and interview) study of health professionals' experience of engaging with online communities for interprofessional peer education. Our results show that health professionals had relatively high levels of confidence engaging with multiple platforms. They used the platforms to formally and informally share evidence-based content, engage in collegial debate and connect with international colleagues. Health professionals are keen to engage with online communities for education and are aware of how these sites' functionality can promote engagement with interdisciplinary peers.

Mental Health Help-Seeking Behavior of Male Video Game Players: An Online Survey.

Video gaming is a popular pastime for young males, having been shown to have both positive and negative effects on players' mental health. The aim of the current study was to ascertain the rate that male video gamers may seek mental health support for mental ill-health generally. The secondary aims were to (a) identify the most prolific barriers to seeking help; (b) determine how confident this group is to seek help; and (c) whether the variance in help-seeking efficacy be explained, in part, by age, hours gamed, self-esteem, and social capital. The survey included sections on demographic information, standardized measures of self-esteem (The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), social capital (The Social Capital in Gaming Scale), help-seeking efficacy (Self-Efficacy to Seek Mental Health Care Scale), and non-standardized measures of help-seeking behavior and help-seeking barriers. The survey of 2,515 participants had a mean age of 21.37 years. The analysis identified that most participants had not sought mental health support for themselves. The most prolific barriers for this cohort to seek help were cost, confidentiality, and trust. Confidence to seek help was rated the lowest for overcoming embarrassment, understanding information, and coping with others' reactions. Help-seeking efficacy was found to be significantly predicted by age, hours spent gaming, self-esteem, and social capital. Low rates of seeking help, coupled with identifying the significant barriers of this group to seek help, may inform researchers aiming to develop targeted interventions for male youth interested in gaming and who are exhibiting mental ill-health to gain initial access, or engage more often, with mental health services when needed. Further research is recommended for investigating male gamers' insights in determining how to overcome the identified barriers for this cohort to improve mental health seeking behavior rather than avoidant behavior. From this, stigma reduction and ease of access to digital mental health services could be improved.

Providing Self-Led Mental Health Support Through an Artificial Intelligence-Powered Chat Bot (Leora) to Meet the Demand of Mental Health Care.

Digital mental health services are becoming increasingly valuable for addressing the global public health burden of mental ill-health. There is significant demand for scalable and effective web-based mental health services. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve mental health through the deployment of chatbots. These chatbots can provide round-the-clock support and triage individuals who are reluctant to access traditional health care due to stigma. The aim of this viewpoint paper is to consider the feasibility of AI-powered platforms to support mental well-being. The Leora model is considered a model with the potential to provide mental health support. Leora is a conversational agent that uses AI to engage in conversations with users about their mental health and provide support for minimal-to-mild symptoms of anxiety and depression. The tool is designed to be accessible, personalized, and discreet, offering strategies for promoting well-being and acting as a web-based self-care coach. Across all AI-powered mental health services, there are several challenges in the ethical development and deployment of AI in mental health treatment, including trust and transparency, bias and health inequity, and the potential for negative consequences. To ensure the effective and ethical use of AI in mental health care, researchers must carefully consider these challenges and engage with key stakeholders to provide high-quality mental health support. Validation of the Leora platform through rigorous user testing will be the next step in ensuring the model is effective.

Increasing Access to Mental Health Services: Videogame Players' Perspectives.

Young men's mental health is at the forefront of global public health concerns. Young males, who have a high incidence of mental health disorders, are a population that accesses services at lower rates than females and makes up the majority of videogame players. By considering the unique perspectives of digitally connected individuals on mental health service delivery, interventions may be designed to address their needs with a higher likelihood of success. This study investigated international male videogamers' perspectives on how their access to mental health services could be improved via an open-ended survey question. From a total of 2515 completed surveys, 761 responded to the qualitative question. Of these, the 71 responses that discussed access to and provision of mental healthcare services are reported in this article. Results suggest that digital mental health services were a promising way to reach this group. Anonymity and confidentiality were found to be important factors when considering online mental health services. Male videogame players identified a preference for both online and in-person services that are delivered synchronously, one-on-one with an expert practitioner, and readily available in settings that individuals find comfortable.

The Use of Virtual Reality for Managing Psychological Distress in Adolescents: Systematic Review.

Acute and chronic psychological distress are prevalent during adolescence and can have negative impacts on adolescents in all life domains. The aim of this systematic review was to appraise the use of virtual reality (VR) interventions to manage symptoms of psychological distress symptoms among adolescents. MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases were searched up to June 2020. Available citations were de-duplicated and screened by two authors using title and abstract information. A total of 301 articles were retained for full-text evaluation next to eligibility criteria. Empirical studies of all designs and comparator groups were included if these appraised the impact of an immersive VR intervention on any standardized measure indicative of psychological distress in an adolescent sample. Data were extracted into a standardized coding sheet. Results were tabulated and discussed with a narrative synthesis due to the heterogeneity between studies. A total of seven studies met inclusion criteria. There were four randomized controlled trials and three uncontrolled pilot studies on new VR interventions. Distress-related issues included: state-anxiety, venepuncture, risk taking, public speaking anxiety, social anxiety disorder, sexual victimization, and chemotherapy administration. All studies reported significant changes on outcome measures after VR treatment. Six studies reported small-to-large reductions in symptoms. The average attrition rate was 3.6 percent during the active VR treatment phase. Treatment acceptability was high in the studies that assessed user engagement factors. The VR technology can provide a safe, rapidly efficacious, and acceptable treatment modality for managing psychological distress in several key adolescent populations.

Facebook as a recruitment tool for adolescent health research: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Researchers are increasingly using social media to recruit participants to surveys and clinical studies. However, the evidence of the efficacy and validity of adolescent recruitment through Facebook is yet to be established. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of the literature on the use of Facebook to recruit adolescents for health research. DATA SOURCES: Nine electronic databases and reference lists were searched for articles published between 2004 and 2013. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies were included in the review if: 1) participants were aged ≥ 10 to ≤ 18 years, 2) studies addressed a physical or mental health issue, 3) Facebook was identified as a recruitment tool, 4) recruitment details using Facebook were outlined in the methods section and considered in the discussion, or information was obtained by contacting the authors, 5) results revealed how many participants were recruited using Facebook, and 6) studies addressed how adolescent consent and/or parental consent was obtained. STUDY APPRAISALS AND SYNTHESIS METHODS: Titles, abstracts, and keywords were scanned and duplicates removed by 2 reviewers. Full text was evaluated for inclusion criteria, and 2 reviewers independently extracted data. RESULTS: The search resulted in 587 publications, of which 25 full-text papers were analyzed. Six studies met all the criteria for inclusion in the review. Three recruitment methods using Facebook was identified: 1) paid Facebook advertising, 2) use of the Facebook search tool, and 3) creation and use of a Facebook Page. CONCLUSIONS: Eligible studies described the use of paid Facebook advertising and Facebook as a search tool as methods to successfully recruit adolescent participants. Online and verbal consent was obtained from participants recruited from Facebook.

E-health as a life long learning process: how to prepare health professionals for this journey.

BACKGROUND: The e-health environment is a rapidly changing one. To effectively engage with technology for healthcare delivery, health professionals must be able to adapt to this constantly evolving environment very quickly. Learning and adapting to new e-health technologies is a life-long learning process. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effectiveness of incorporating self-directed and transformative learning approaches to introduce health sciences students to e-health concepts and skills. METHODS: Two surveys were conducted to measure students' e-health knowledge and their perceived self-efficacy in using commonly available software to complete tasks required for an assessment in the unit of study. These surveys were conducted at the beginning and the end of the semester. Paired t-tests with Bonferroni adjustment were used to examine the effect of the teaching approach on students' self-perceived efficacy. RESULTS: It was found that students showed significant improvement in their knowledge of, and perceived efficacy in using, commonly available software to carry out spreadsheet, database and data manipulation operations after intervention. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the combined self-directed and transformative teaching and learning approach is effective in helping students to identify their learning needs and develop skills to seek out resources that enable them to learn new e-health skills and concepts in a self-directed manner.

The effect of e-health contents on health science students' attitude toward the efficiency of health ICT in care provision.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effects of e-health education content on the attitude of undergraduate health science students towards the efficiency of health ICT in healthcare provision. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was used. Participants were Health Sciences students attending The University of Sydney. Students were divided into three groups: junior students enrolled in a subject with non e-health content; senior students enrolled in a subject with non e-health content; and students enrolled in a subject with e-health content. Students' attitude towards the efficiency of ICT in healthcare provision was measured by a modified version of the Information Technology Attitude Scales for Health (ITASH). RESULTS: Students enrolled in the subject with e-health content had a significantly higher average baseline attitude score than the other two groups (T198=-3.47, p=0.001; T93=-2.43, p=0.017). The repeat measures analysis yielded a result with significant interaction between survey time and student group (F2, 267=4.99, p=0.007) suggesting that changes of score was dependent on student group status. CONCLUSION: Subjects rich in e-health content significantly enhanced student attitudes, even with a group of students with a rather positive initial attitude. To facilitate the uptake and utilisation of health ICT by the future health workforce, it is important for tertiary educational institutes to provide students with sufficient exposure to specific health-related ICT training, via specifically designed subjects delivering both generic and specific e-health content.

How do enzymes reduce metals? The mechanism of the reduction of Cr(VI) in chromate by cytochrome c7 proteins proposed from DFT calculations.

Various bacteria are effective in metal reduction, and there is an increasing use of such micro-organisms for decontaminating polluted environments. Iron-containing electron transfer proteins, particularly those of the cytochrome c7 family, can bind a number of toxic metals in their high oxidation states, and can reduce them via electron transfer mechanisms. We report a computational investigation of the binding of CrO4(2-) to the cytochrome c7 of Desulfuromonas acetoxidans and explore possible mechanisms for the subsequent reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). Our modelling strategy is to identify the binding site of D. acetoxidans for the chromate di-anion, and to use this structure as a starting point to generate realistic models for DFT calculations of the structures and energetics of species along the pathway for reduction. We address the following aspects of the mechanism: (i) How do the neighbouring residues, particularly the nearby lysines, modulate the reduction process? (ii) What is the speciation of chromium as the oxidation state is reduced from VI? (iii) How is the electron transfer made energetically feasible, considering the initial species (chromate) has a high negative charge? We suggest that both electron transfer from the heme and proton transfer from the lysines occur, followed by a disproportionation mechanism involving Cr(V). This mechanism is compared with our proposed mechanism for the reduction of actinyl species.

Aberrant expression of the neuronal transcription factor FOXP2 in neoplastic plasma cells.

FOXP2 mutation causes a severe inherited speech and language defect, while the related transcription factors FOXP1, FOXP3 and FOXP4 are implicated in cancer. FOXP2 mRNA and protein expression were characterised in normal human tissues, haematological cell lines and multiple myeloma (MM) patients' samples. FOXP2 mRNA and protein were absent in mononuclear cells from different anatomical sites, lineages and stages of differentiation. However, FOXP2 mRNA and protein was detected in several lymphoma (8/20) and all MM-derived cell lines (n = 4). FOXP2 mRNA was expressed in bone marrow samples from 96% of MM patients (24/25), 66.7% of patients with the pre-neoplastic plasma cell proliferation monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) (6/9), but not in reactive plasma cells. The frequency of FOXP2 protein expression in CD138(+) plasma cells was significantly higher in MGUS (P = 0.0005; mean 46.4%) and MM patients (P < or = 0.0001; mean 57.3%) than in reactive marrows (mean 2.5%). FOXP2 (>10% nuclear positivity) was detectable in 90.2% of MM (55/61) and 90.9% of MGUS (10/11) patients, showing more frequent expression than CD56 and labelling 75% of CD56-negative MM (9/12). FOXP2 represents the first transcription factor whose expression consistently differentiates normal and abnormal plasma cells and FOXP2 target genes are implicated in MM pathogenesis.

Catalytic cycles for the reduction of [UO2]2+ by cytochrome c7 proteins proposed from DFT calculations.

The mechanism of the reduction of the hydrated uranyl cation, [UO2](2+), by the cytochromes G. sulfurreducens and D. acetoxidans has been studied using density functional theory calculations. We propose that the initial electron transfer step from the heme is to a cation-cation complex in the case of D. acetoxidans, but for G. sulfurreducens, it is to a single uranyl cation, which then forms a U(V)-U(VI) complex with a second uranyl cation. For both enzymes, the subsequent catalytic pathways are very similar. A U(V)-U(V) complex is formed, which then undergoes disproportionation via two successive protonation steps of one uranyl group, to give a U(VI)-U(IV) complex which dissociates to individual U(VI) and U(IV) species, the former being bound at the enzyme active site. Intermediate structures along the catalytic pathway are consistent with EXAFS data.

Measurement of temperature distributions across laser heated samples by multispectral imaging radiometry.

Two-dimensional temperature mapping of laser heated diamond anvil cell samples is performed by processing a set of four simultaneous images of the sample, each obtained at a narrow spectral range in the visible to near infrared. The images are correlated spatially, and each set of four points is fitted to the Planck radiation function to determine the temperature and the emissivity of the sample, using the gray body approximation. The method is tested by measuring the melting point of Pt at 1 bar and measuring laser heated Fe at 20 GPa in the diamond anvil cell. The accuracy and precision are shown to compare well to standard spectroradiometry, and the effect of imaging resolution on the measured distribution is evaluated. The principal advantages of the method are (1) the temperature and emissivity of the sample are mapped in two dimensions; (2) chromatic aberrations are practically eliminated by independent focusing of each spectral band; and (3) all of the spectral images are obtained simultaneously, allowing temporal variations to be studied. This method of measuring temperature distributions can be generalized to other hot objects besides laser heated spots.

Internet use by the socially fearful: addiction or therapy?

The Internet has often been argued to have adverse psychological consequences, such as depression or anxiety symptoms, among "over-users." The present study offers an alternative understanding, suggesting the Internet may be used as a forum for expanding social networks and consequently enhancing the chance of meaningful relationships, self-confidence, social abilities, and social support. An online sample of 188 people was recruited over the Internet, while paper and pencil tests were administered to an offline sample group of 27 undergraduate university students, who were regular Internet users. Subjects completed the Zung Depression Scale (ZDS), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire?Revised Short Scale (EPQ-R Short), Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE) scale, Internet Use Questionnaire (IUQ), and an Internet Effects Questionnaire (IEQ). Results suggested that there was no relationship between time spent online and depression, anxiety, or social fearfulness. Those who primarily used the Internet for online chat believed that the Internet is psychologically beneficial to them, but also believed that frequent Internet users are lonely and that the Internet can be addictive. It is argued that "chat" users who are socially fearful may be using the Internet as a form of low-risk social approach and an opportunity to rehearse social behavior and communication skills, which, may help them improve interaction with offline, face-to-face, social environments.

Stress and psychological well-being among allied health professionals.

This study reports findings of an online survey of 139 health professionals. Health professionals were asked about the degree and type of workplace stress they encountered, as well as general perceived stress, psychological distress, and life satisfaction. The sample comprised social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech pathologists, and a small number of other allied health professionals. The allied health professional groups were remarkably similar in terms of workplace stress, life satisfaction, perceived stress outside the workplace, and the depression, anxiety, and stress subscales of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale. There were no significant differences in these variables between those working in hospital and community settings. Compared with expectations based on normative data, more people in the present sample had Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale depression scores in the mild, moderate, severe, or very severe range. The single significant predictor of psychological distress and life satisfaction was perceived stress. In the context of an increasingly generic health care workforce, the present findings indicate that workplace stressors are also generic and that generic, interdisciplinary stress management approaches may therefore be recommended.

Iron-rich silicates in the Earth's D'' layer.

High-pressure experiments and theoretical calculations demonstrate that an iron-rich ferromagnesian silicate phase can be synthesized at the pressure-temperature conditions near the core-mantle boundary. The iron-rich phase is up to 20% denser than any known silicate at the core-mantle boundary. The high mean atomic number of the silicate greatly reduces the seismic velocity and provides an explanation to the low-velocity and ultra-low-velocity zones. Formation of this previously undescribed phase from reaction between the silicate mantle and the iron core may be responsible for the unusual geophysical and geochemical signatures observed at the base of the lower mantle.

Ferromagnesian postperovskite silicates in the D'' layer of the Earth.

Natural olivine with 12 mol % Fe(2)SiO(4) and synthetic orthopyroxenes with 20% and 40% FeSiO(3) were studied beyond the pressure-temperature conditions of the core-mantle boundary. All samples were found to convert entirely or partially into the CaIrO(3) postperovskite structure, which was recently reported for pure MgSiO(3). The incorporation of Fe greatly reduces the pressure needed for the transition and establishes the new phase as the major component of the D'' layer. With the liquid core as an unlimited reservoir of iron, core-mantle reactions could further enrich the iron content in this phase and explain the intriguing seismic signatures observed in the D'' layer.

Iron-silicon alloy in Earth's core?

We have investigated the phase relations in the iron-rich portion of the iron-silicon (Fe-Si) alloys at high pressures and temperatures. Our study indicates that Si alloyed with Fe can stabilize the body-centered cubic (bcc) phase up to at least 84 gigapascals (compared to approximately 10 gigapascals for pure Fe) and 2400 kelvin. Earth's inner core may be composed of hexagonal close-packed (hcp) Fe with up to 4 weight percent Si, but it is also conceivable that the inner core could be a mixture of a Si-rich bcc phase and a Si-poor hcp phase.