Poor-Quality Daily Social Encounters, Daily Stress, and Subjective Cognitive Decline Among Older Adults.

Background and Objectives: Although prior research has shown that social relationships and daily stress are strongly associated with cognitive function, few studies have explored the link between the quality of daily social encounters and subjective cognitive decline (SCD). The present study explores whether the quality of older adults' daily social encounters is associated with SCD through daily stress. Research Design and Methods: This study used data from 254 adults aged 70 or older (M age  = 76.5 years, SD = 4.4; 67.7% women) who completed the Einstein Aging Study, a 2-week experience sampling study. Multilevel mediation analyses were conducted to account for daily measurements nested within individuals. We tested the indirect effect of the quality of daily social encounters on SCD through daily stress levels. Results: There was a significant positive association between ambivalent and neutral social encounters and daily stress levels at both the within- and between-person levels. Between-person daily stress was, in turn, associated with greater SCD. Specifically, there was a significant indirect path from ambivalent social encounters to SCD through daily stress. Discussion and Implications: This study contributes to a more detailed understanding of how the quality of daily social encounters can influence cognition via increased exposure to daily stress. The findings suggest that emotional support may be crucial to preserving perceptions of older adults' cognitive functioning.

"Weight of the World" and "I Want Them to Know": Skilled Nursing Facility Administrators' Perspectives on COVID-19 in Research Poems.

COVID-19 has had a drastic, long-lasting impact on skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), forcing communities to continuously adapt to rapidly changing guidelines, restrictions, and challenges. In spring 2020, we conducted a sequential mixed-methods study with administrators of SNFs in the Midwest to understand the experience of administrators, staff, and residents during the pandemic. We collected 60 surveys with open-ended items related to the impact of the pandemic on communities as a whole, staff, and residents. Survey findings informed supplemental interviews with six administrators working in diverse regions. Due to the affective nature of the data, we present the findings in two found poems, which emphasize the lyrical, emotional, and poignant aspects of the participant voices. The first poem, Weight of the World, captures the struggle to adapt during the transition into the pandemic and its negative impacts on the lives of residents and their families. The second, I Want Them to Know, describes the resiliency with which administrators and staff responded to adversity while maintaining motivation to continue the work in the midst of unprecedented challenges. The two poems offer contrasting or balancing narratives of struggle and survival during the pandemic era.

Representations of older adults in COVID-related newspaper articles: A comparison between the perspectives of older and younger adults.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, media sources discussed diverse perspectives on aging and older adults, providing opportunities to examine representations of older adults during times of crisis. This study aims to explore representations of older adults during the first month of the pandemic in the U.S. by comparing the perspectives of older and younger adults in national newspapers. A systematic search identified 115 articles published in four major newspapers in the U.S. between March 11 and April 10, 2020, in which older and younger adults were quoted on topics related to the intersection of COVID-19 and aging. Quotes were inductively reviewed using content and thematic analytic strategies. A total of 265 quotes were identified from older adults (n = 104, 39%) and younger adults (n = 161, 61%). We identified three primary themes: impacts on "vulnerable" older adults, debates over the value of older adults' lives, and a counternarrative of resiliency. Older adults were represented as a vulnerable group during the pandemic, in need of protection and support, while debates over the value of their lives similarly evoke images of frailty and dependency. Such depictions frame older adults as a burden on society and reduce their agency and subjectivity. Ageist biases were not only present in quotes from public figures and professionals, but also evident in quotes from older adults themselves. However, older adults also spoke to their own resiliency, survival, and strengths, thereby positioning themselves as elders worthy of respect and able to share wisdom with younger generations. These findings highlight the importance of listening to older adults' voices in order to understand their experiences from their own perspectives through their own agentive positioning and promoting intentionally age-positive and nuanced representations of older adults in public discourse.

Sexual Expression, Policies, and Practices in Skilled Nursing Settings Serving Older Adults: An Updated Assessment in the State of Kansas.

Doll assessed sexual expressions, policies, and practices in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) in the state of Kansas. This study provided an updated and expanded assessment. A mixed-methods survey was distributed to administrators of all SNFs in the state of Kansas. Among 60 administrations, 84% reported any sexual expression among residents in their community within the past year and 55% reported expressions involving an individual with cognitive impairment. In response to sexual expressions, 70% of administrators believe staff would treat residents with dignity and respect and about 40% anticipated staff discomfort. About 40% of administrators reported having a policy related to sexual expression. Attitudes and responses of staff and administrators appear to be shifting in a sex-positive direction. While policies related to sexuality are more common than a decade ago, there is room for additional uptake, standardization, and infusion of person-centered language and practices.

Exposure to Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles Induces Acute and Chronic Inflammatory Responses in Rat Lungs and Perturbs the Lung Microbiome.

Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) are highly redox active nanoparticles. They can cause acute and chronic inflammation in rat lungs. Unlike the gut microbiome, the association between the lung microbiome's role and pulmonary inflammatory response to inhaled nanoparticles remains largely unexplored. We aimed to explore the interaction between the lung microbiome and inflammatory responses in rats exposed to NiO NPs. Thirty female Wistar rats were randomly categorized into control and low- (50 cm2/rat), and high- (150 cm2/rat) dose NiO NPs exposure groups. NiO NPs were intratracheally instilled, and cytological, biochemical, proinflammatory cytokine, and lung microbiome analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were performed at 1 day and 4 weeks after instillation. NiO NPs caused a neutrophilic and lymphocytic inflammatory response in rat lung. We demonstrated that exposure to NiO NPs can alter the lung microbial composition in rats. In particular, we found that more Burkholderiales are present in the NiO NPs exposure groups than in the control group at 1 day after instillation. Dysbiosis in the lung microbiome is thought to be associated with acute lung inflammation. We also suggested that Burkholderiales may be a key biomarker associated with lung neutrophilic inflammation after NiO NPs exposure.

Ageism in COVID-Related Newspaper Coverage: The First Month of a Pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: Media sources have consistently described older adults as a medically vulnerable population during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, yet a lack of concern over their health and safety has resulted in dismissal and devaluation. This unprecedented situation highlights ongoing societal ageism and its manifestations in public discourse. This analysis asks how national news sources performed explicit and implicit ageism during the first month of the pandemic. METHOD: Using content and critical discourse analysis methods, we analyzed 287 articles concerning older adults and COVID-19 published between March 11 and April 10, 2020, in 4 major U.S.-based newspapers. RESULTS: Findings indicate that while ageism was rarely discussed explicitly, ageist bias was evident in implicit reporting patterns (e.g., frequent use of the term "elderly," portrayals of older adults as "vulnerable"). Infection and death rates and institutionalized care were among the most commonly reported topics, providing a limited portrait of aging during the pandemic. The older "survivor" narrative offers a positive alternative by suggesting exceptional examples of resilience and grit. However, the survivor narrative may also implicitly place blame on those unable to survive or thrive in later life. DISCUSSION: This study provides insight for policy makers, researchers, and practitioners exploring societal perceptions of older adults and how these perceptions are disseminated and maintained by the media.

Trichinella spiralis infection ameliorated diet-induced obesity model in mice.

Obesity is an increasingly prevalent disease worldwide, and genetic and environmental factors are known to regulate the development of obesity and associated metabolic diseases. Emerging studies indicate that innate and adaptive immune cell responses in adipose tissue play critical roles in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis. Parasitic helminths are the strongest natural inducers of type 2 inflammatory responses, and several studies have revealed that helminth infections inversely correlate with metabolic syndrome. Hence, this study investigated whether helminth infections could have preventative effects on high fat diet-induced obesity. Female C57BL/6 mice were maintained on either a low fat diet (LFD, 10% fat) or a high fat diet (HFD, 60% fat) for 6 weeks after Trichinella spiralis infection. The mice were randomly divided into four groups and were fed a normal diet, LFD, LFD after T. spiralis infection (Inf + LFD), a high fat diet (HFD), or HFD after T. spiralis infection (HFD + inf). All groups were assayed for body weight, food efficiency ratio (FER), total body weight gain (g)/total food intake amount (g) fat weight, and blood biochemical parameters. Our data indicate that the HFD + inf group significantly reduced body weight gain, fat mass, total cholesterol, and FER. Analysis of immune cell composition by flow cytometry revealed that T. spiralis promoted strong decreases in proinflammatory adipose macrophages (F4/80+CD11c+) and T cells. The alterations in microbiota from fecal samples of mice were analyzed, which showed that T. spiralis infection decreased the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteriodetes, thereby restoring the previously increased ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteriodetes in HFD-fed mice. Moreover, elimination of T. spiralis retained the protective effects in the HFD-fed obese mice whereas flubendazole (FLBZ) treatment increased levels of the families Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae. In summary, we provided novel data suggesting that helminth infection protects against obesity and the protection was closely related to M2 macrophage proliferation, an inhibiting proinflammatory response. In addition, it alters the microbiota in the gut.

Effects of lifelong spontaneous exercise on the M1/M2 macrophage polarization ratio and gene expression in adipose tissue of super-aged mice.

In the adipose tissue (AT), an increase in the M1 macrophage (M1Ø)/M2 macrophage (M2Ø) polarization ratio can be a risk factor enhancing the inflammatory response during aging, as well as increasing the risk of chronic disease, thereby reducing lifespan, or at least reducing "healthy" lifespan. The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the AT M1Ø/M2Ø polarization ratio at the final lifespan stage in aged and control animals performing lifelong spontaneous wheel running. Based on flow cytometric analysis, the AT ratio of macrophages revealed M2Ø polarization following lifelong spontaneous exercise (LSE) regardless of age. However, for Icam1 and Tnf, the qPCR analysis showed no difference in gene expressions in young mice; Arg1 expression was higher in Young-EXE (exercising) than in Young-CON (control) mice (p < .0001). In Old-EXE, Icam1 (p < .0001) and Tnf (p < .0001) expression were lower than in Old-CON; for Arg1, gene expression in Old-EXE was higher than in Old-CON (p < .0001). LSE prevents deterioration of physical fitness owing to aging, maintaining high M2Ø polarization levels in the AT. Additionally, LSE does not downregulate Icam1 and Tnf in the AT but appears to suppress the increased M1Ø polarization ratio attributed to aging by upregulating Arg1.

"You'll See": Younger Women Interviewing Older Women in Qualitative Research.

Understanding the co-construction of the interview process between older adult research participants and relatively younger interviewers requires a nuanced analysis of positioning, reflexivity, and power within interviewing dynamics, accounting for differences in historical context and lived experience. Guided by a feminist life span approach, this study examined interviewing dynamics between a younger woman interviewer and older women research participants, ages 57-93 (mean = 65.3), in two qualitative studies completed five years apart. Four themes emerged: 1) contrasting experiences drew explicit attention to discrepancies in historical context, age, and life experience between participants and the interviewer. Similarities often arose in the theme of 2) invoking expertise in which participants oriented to or invoked their own expertise in their life story and experiences and the interviewer's expertise in research, sexuality studies, and social services. Participants enacted 3) demonstrating care, by prioritizing the researcher's goals, offering advice, and expressing hopes for younger generations. Finally, 4) the participants and researcher used distinctive conversational strategies when addressing challenging or sensitive topics. This paper contributes a needed analysis of age-related dynamics in qualitative research as well as indicating potential strategies to inform reflexive cross-generational conversations in gerontological research and practice more broadly.

Biogenesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles Using Shewanella Species Isolated from Diverse Regions.

The objective of this study was to synthesize magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles using diverse Shewanella species isolated from different environments. Magnetite formation experiments were performed with 11 species of Shewanella using akaganeite (ß-FeOOH) as an electron acceptor and lactate (C3H6O3) as an electron donor under a N2 atmosphere at room temperature. Magnetites and other products formed by the bacteria were characterized by XRD and TEM-EDS analyses. In this study, all the strains of Shewanella species produced magnetite nanoparticles with 2.5 to 20 nm in size. However, the size of the magnetite varied with the species of Shewanella, and a few species formed Fe(III) oxide as secondary minerals such as goethite and lepidocrocite. These results indicate that different species of iron-reducing bacteria belonging to the genus Shewanella exhibit different rates of Fe(III) reduction resulting in magnetite nanocrystals of varying size and formation of secondary mineral species.

Release of N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances from baby bottle teats and rubber kitchen tools in Korea.

Ensuring the safety of baby bottle teats and kitchen tools made from rubber is critical. Therefore, the migration of N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances from 30 teats and 45 kitchen tools to artificial saliva was analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The method was validated by assessing the limits of detection (0.46-3.87 µg/kg), limits of quantification (1.38-11.73 µg/kg), and recoveries (86.3-108.6%) of seven compounds. Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosopiperidine, and N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) migrated from baby bottle teats at concentrations of not detected (ND) to 3.67 µg/kg. NDMA and NMOR concentrations ranged from ND to 1.72 µg/kg after migration from 45 rubber kitchen tools. N-nitrosatable substances ranged from ND to 42.16 µg/kg after migration from baby bottle teats but did not migrate from rubber kitchen tools. All tested products were considered safe for use, as N-nitrosamine and N-nitrosatable substance levels did not exceed the permitted management specifications.

Fast and simple determination and exposure assessment of bisphenol A, phenol, p-tert-butylphenol, and diphenylcarbonate transferred from polycarbonate food-contact materials to food simulants.

Polycarbonate (PC) plastics find extensive use in baby bottles, food storage containers, and various kitchen items. Possibly hazardous chemicals, bisphenol A (BPA), phenol, p-tert-butylphenol (TBP), and diphenylcarbonate (DPC), are source materials or by-products from PC production. Therefore, a fast and simple analytical method was developed to determine and assess the exposure of BPA, phenol, TBP, and DPC transferred from PC food-contact materials to four different food simulants (water, 4% acetic acid, 50% ethanol, and n-heptane) at different temperatures. The method was validated in terms of limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), recovery, and precision for the detection of BPA, phenol, and TBP using HPLC-FLD and of DPC using HPLC-UV. BPA, phenol, TBP, and DPC concentrations transferred from 200 PC samples to food simulants were determined. The highest migration levels of BPA (54.3 µg L-1) and phenol (43.8 µg L-1) were found in 50% ethanol at 70 °C. TBP did not migrate to any simulant. DPC did not show any migration from PC samples into water and only migrated from a cup to 4% acetic acid at 70 °C and 100 °C, whereas migration occurred from several cups, ladles, spoons, and tongs to 50% ethanol and to n-heptane at 25 °C. Food simulants and temperature were the crucial factors for the migration of BPA and phenol from PC samples. Estimated daily intakes (EDIs), based on food consumption and food-type distribution factors, for BPA, phenol, and DPC were calculated to be 0.007, 0.001, and 2.5 × 10-4 µg kg-1 bw day-1, respectively.

The organization of melanopsin-immunoreactive cells in microbat retina.

Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) respond to light and play roles in non-image forming vision, such as circadian rhythms, pupil responses, and sleep regulation, or image forming vision, such as processing visual information and directing eye movements in response to visual clues. The purpose of the present study was to identify the distribution, types, and proportion of melanopsin-immunoreactive (IR) cells in the retina of a nocturnal animal, i.e., the microbat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum). Three types of melanopsin-IR cells were observed in the present study. The M1 type had dendritic arbors that extended into the OFF sublayer of the inner plexiform layer (IPL). M1 soma locations were identified either in the ganglion cell layer (GCL, M1c; 21.00%) or in the inner nuclear layer (INL, M1d; 5.15%). The M2 type had monostratified dendrites in the ON sublayer of the IPL and their cell bodies lay in the GCL (M2; 5.79%). The M3 type was bistratified cells with dendrites in both the ON and OFF sublayers of the IPL. M3 soma locations were either in the GCL (M3c; 26.66%) or INL (M3d; 4.69%). Additionally, some M3c cells had curved dendrites leading up towards the OFF sublayer of the IPL and down to the ON sublayer of the IPL (M3c-crv; 7.67%). Melanopsin-IR cells displayed a medium soma size and medium dendritic field diameters. There were 2-5 primary dendrites and sparsely branched dendrites with varicosities. The total number of the neurons in the GCL was 12,254.17 ± 660.39 and that of the optic nerve axons was 5,179.04 ± 208.00 in the R. ferrumequinum retina. The total number of melanopsin-IR cells was 819.74 ± 52.03. The ipRGCs constituted approximately 15.83% of the total RGC population. This study demonstrated that the nocturnal microbat, R. ferrumequinum, has a much higher density of melanopsin-IR cells than documented in diurnal animals.

Localization of melanopsin-immunoreactive cells in the Mongolian gerbil retina.

Melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) are involved in circadian rhythm and pupil responses. The purpose of this study was to reveal the organization of melanopsin-immunoreactive (IR) neurons in the Mongolian gerbil retina using immunocytochemistry. Melanopsin-IR cells were primarily located in the ganglion cell layer (GCL; M1c; 75.15%). Many melanopsin-IR cells were also observed in the inner nuclear layer (INL; M1d; 22.28%). The M1c and M1d cell types extended their dendritic processes into the OFF sublayer of the inner plexiform layer (IPL). We rarely observed bistratified cells (M3; 2.56%) with dendrites in both the ON and OFF sublayers of the IPL. Surprisingly, we did not observe M2 cells which are well observed in other rodents. Melanopsin-IR cell somas were small to medium in size and had large dendritic fields. They had 2-5 primary dendrites that branched sparingly and had varicosities. Melanopsin-IR cell density was very low: they comprised 0.50% of the total ganglion cell population. Moreover, none of the melanopsin-IR cells expressed calbindin-D28K, calretinin, or parvalbumin. These results suggest that in the Mongolian gerbil, melanopsin-IR cells are expressed in a very small RGC subpopulation, and are independent of calcium-binding proteins-containing RGCs.

Generation and Characterization of Recombinant Influenza A(H1N1) Viruses Resistant to Neuraminidase Inhibitors.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of neuraminidase (NA) mutations on the NA inhibitor (NAI) resistance phenotype, the recombinant influenza A/Chungbuk/4448/2008(H1N1) virus isolated in South Korea during the 2008-2009 season was generated by reverse genetics. METHODS: Site-directed mutagenesis was introduced on the NA gene of A/Chungbuk/4448/2008(H1N1) virus, and a total of 23 single, double, and triple mutants were generated. Resistance phenotype of these recombinant viruses was determined by NA-inhibition (NAI) assays based on a fluorometric method using two NAIs (oseltamivir and zanamivir). RESULTS: NA-inhibition assays showed that all the single and double mutants containing the Y275 except the single Y275-E119V mutant conferred important levels of resistance to oseltamivir, whereas all the single, double, and triple mutants containing the E119V mutation were associated with the resistance to zanamivir. CONCLUSION: Considering the effect of mutations in NA gene on the resistance to NAIs, it is important to monitor the possible emergence and dissemination of multidrug-resistant variants in the human population due to amino acid changes at NA gene as well as to develop novel NAIs.