Mitigating the Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in the United States: Utilization of the Chronic Care Model as a Public Health Framework

As the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy continues to be on the rise, the Chronic Care Model (CCM) offers a transformative, patient-focused approach for efficient diabetic retinopathy care, emphasizing the need for urgent and innovative strategies in the United States. The model integrates community resources, healthcare organizations, self-management support, delivery system design, decision support, and clinical information systems. Addressing challenges and solutions, the model emphasizes proactive and preventive measures, collaborative multidisciplinary care, technological integration, and overcoming resistance to change. This paper proposes the utilization of the Chronic Care Model (CCM) as a possible public health framework for comprehensive management of diabetic retinopathy in the United States. Implementing the CCM offers a comprehensive approach to diabetic retinopathy care, addressing both individual and systemic factors, essential for improving public health outcomes.

Additive manufacturing of micropatterned functional surfaces:a review

Over the course of millions of years,nature has evolved to ensure survival and presents us with a myriad of functional surfaces and structures that can boast high efficiency,multifunctionality,and sustainability.What makes these surfaces particularly practical and effective is the intricate micropatterning that enables selective interactions with microstructures.Most of these structures have been realized in the laboratory environment using numerous fabrication techniques by tailoring specific surface properties.Of the available manufacturing methods,additive manufacturing(AM)has created opportunities for fabricating these structures as the complex architectures of the naturally occurring microstructures far exceed the traditional ways.This paper presents a concise overview of the fundamentals of such patterned microstructured surfaces,their fabrication techniques,and diverse applications.A comprehensive evaluation of micro fabrication methods is conducted,delving into their respective strengths and limitations.Greater emphasis is placed on AM processes like inkjet printing and micro digital light projection printing due to the intrinsic advantages of these processes to additively fabricate high resolution structures with high fidelity and precision.The paper explores the various advancements in these processes in relation to their use in microfabrication and also presents the recent trends in applications like the fabrication of microlens arrays,microneedles,and tissue scaffolds.

3D-Printed MOF Monoliths:Fabrication Strategies and Environmental Applications

Metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)have been extensively considered as one of the most promising types of porous and crystalline organic-inorganic materials,thanks to their large specific surface area,high porosity,tailorable structures and compositions,diverse functionalities,and well-controlled pore/size distribution.However,most developed MOFs are in powder forms,which still have some technical challenges,including abrasion,dustiness,low packing densities,clogging,mass/heat transfer limitation,environmental pollution,and mechanical instability during the packing process,that restrict their applicability in industrial applications.Therefore,in recent years,attention has focused on techniques to convert MOF powders into macroscopic materials like beads,membranes,monoliths,gel/sponges,and nanofibers to overcome these challenges.Three-dimensional(3D)printing technology has achieved much interest because it can produce many high-resolution macroscopic frameworks with complex shapes and geometries from digital models.Therefore,this review summarizes the combination of different 3D printing strategies with MOFs and MOF-based materials for fabricating 3D-printed MOF monoliths and their environmental applications,emphasizing water treatment and gas adsorption/separation applications.Herein,the various strategies for the fabrication of 3D-printed MOF monoliths,such as direct ink writing,seed-assisted in-situ growth,coordination replication from solid precursors,matrix incorporation,selective laser sintering,and digital light processing,are described with the relevant examples.Finally,future directions and challenges of 3D-printed MOF monoliths are also presented to better plan future trajectories in the shaping of MOF materials with improved control over the structure,composition,and textural properties of 3D-printed MOF monoliths.

Impact of glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists on endoscopy and its preoperative management: Guidelines, challenges, and future directions

Glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists(GLP-1RA)are used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus and,more recently,have garnered attention for their effect-iveness in promoting weight loss.They have been associated with several gastrointestinal adverse effects,including nausea and vomiting.These side effects are presumed to be due to increased residual gastric contents.Given the potential risk of aspiration and based on limited data,the American Society of Anesthesi-ologists updated the guidelines concerning the preoperative management of patients on GLP-1RA in 2023.They included the duration of mandated cessation of GLP-1RA before sedation and usage of“full stomach”precautions if these medications were not appropriately held before the procedure.This has led to additional challenges,such as extended waiting time,higher costs,and increased risk for patients.In this editorial,we review the current societal guidelines,clinical practice,and future directions regarding the usage of GLP-1RA in patients undergoing an endoscopic procedure.

Regeneration of pitch pine (Pinus rigida) stands inhibited by fire suppression in Albany Pine Bush Preserve, New York

The Pine Barrens in New York State are dominated by pitch pine(Pinus ridgida) and scrub oaks(Quercus ilicifolia and Q. prinoides). With fire suppression over the last 90 years or so, P. rigida regeneration has become sparse, even in areas set aside to preserve this type of vegetation. We evaluated the effects of fire and an alternative disturbance(mechanical removal of vegetation)for increasing P. rigida regeneration in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve in eastern New York State. By comparing cover, diameter and height of P. rigida, Q. ilicifolia, Q.prinoides, and Vaccinium spp.(blueberry) growing on the sites with a known fire history, we documented structural and compositional changes in the vegetation since its establishment. We also compared sites on which Quercus sprouts were controlled through mechanical removal. In the years following a disturbance, height and cover of Q. ilicifolia increased continuously and the species became increasingly competitive. Both the density of P. rigida seedlings and Vaccinium cover decreased significantly as the diameter and height of Quercus increased. Our results confirmed that the dominance by P. rigida could be attributed to periodic fires at intervals of 20–25 years. We conclude that removing Q. ilicifolia can favor P. rigida dominance on the barren without fire by releasing pine seedlings from competition.

Design of high-temperature superconductors at moderate pressures by alloying AlH3 or GaH3

Since the discovery of hydride superconductors,a significant challenge has been to reduce the pressure required for their stabilization.In this context,we propose that alloying could be an effective strategy to achieve this.We focus on a series of alloyed hydrides with the AMH_(6)composition,which can be made via alloying A15 AH_(3)(A=Al or Ga)with M(M=a group IIIB or IVB metal),and study their behavior under pressure.Seven of them are predicted to maintain the A15-type structure,similar to AH_(3)under pressure,providing a platform for studying the effects of alloying on the stability and superconductivity of AH_(3).Among these,the A15-type phases of AlZrH_(6)and AlHfH_(6)are found to be thermodynamically stable in the pressure ranges of 40–150 and 30–181 GPa,respectively.Furthermore,they remain dynamically stable at even lower pressures,as low as 13 GPa for AlZrH_(6)and 6 GPa for AlHfH_(6).These pressures are significantly lower than that required for stabilizing A15 AlH3.Additionally,the introduction of Zr or Hf increases the electronic density of states at the Fermi level compared with AlH3.This enhancement leads to higher critical temperatures(Tc)of 75 and 76 K for AlZrH_(6)and AlHfH_(6)at 20 and 10 GPa,respectively.In the case of GaMH_(6)alloys,where M represents Sc,Ti,Zr,or Hf,these metals reinforce the stability of the A15-type structure and reduce the lowest thermodynamically stable pressure for GaH_(3) from 160 GPa to 116,95,80,and 85 GPa,respectively.Particularly noteworthy are the A15-type GaMH_(6)alloys,which remain dynamically stable at low pressures of 97,28,5,and 6 GPa,simultaneously exhibiting high Tc of 88,39,70,and 49 K at 100,35,10,and 10 GPa,respectively.Overall,these findings enrich the family of A15-type superconductors and provide insights for the future exploration of high-temperature hydride superconductors that can be stabilized at lower pressures.

Nutritional epigenetics education improves diet and attitude of parents of children with autism or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

BACKGROUND Unhealthy maternal diet leads to heavy metal exposures from the consumption of ultra-processed foods that may impact gene behavior across generations,creating conditions for the neurodevelopmental disorders known as autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD).Children with these disorders have difficulty metabolizing and excreting heavy metals from their bloodstream,and the severity of their symptoms correlates with the heavy metal levels measured in their blood.Psychiatrists may play a key role in helping parents reduce their ultra-processed food and dietary heavy metal intake by providing access to effective nutritional epigenetics education.AIM To test the efficacy of nutritional epigenetics instruction in reducing parental ultra-processed food intake.METHODS The study utilized a semi-randomized test and control group pretest-posttest pilot study design with participants recruited from parents having a learning-disabled child with autism or ADHD.Twenty-two parents who met the inclusion criteria were randomly selected to serve in the test(n=11)or control(n=11)group.The test group participated in the six-week online nutritional epigenetics tutorial,while the control group did not.The efficacy of the nutritional epigenetics instruction was determined by measuring changes in parent diet and attitude using data derived from an online diet survey administered to the participants during the pre and post intervention periods.Diet intake scores were derived for both ultra-processed and whole/organic foods.Paired sample t-tests were conducted to determine any differences in mean diet scores within each group.RESULTS There was a significant difference in the diet scores of the test group between the pre-and post-intervention periods.The parents in the test group significantly reduced their intake of ultra-processed foods with a preintervention diet score of 70(mean=5.385,SD=2.534)and a post-intervention diet score of 113(mean=8.692,SD=1.750)and the paired t-test analysis showing a significance of P<0.001.The test group also significantly increased their consumption of whole and/or organic foods with a pre-intervention diet score of 100(mean=5.882,SD=2.472)and post-intervention diet score of 121(mean=7.118,SD=2.390)and the paired t-test analysis showing a significance of P<0.05.CONCLUSION Here we show nutritional epigenetics education can be used to reduce ultra-processed food intake and improve attitude among parents having learning-disabled children with autism or ADHD.

Geographies of Chemical Warfare in Vietnam: The Merry Band of Retirees

This review explores the recent development of research on rainbow herbicides as chemical weapons and the geographies of chemical warfare in what is now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. While the use and impacts of Agent Orange have previously been well documented, the production and extensive application of five other rainbow agents by the United States military has only recently been investigated in detail. What is exceptional about this research of chemical warfare landscapes is that the 23 refereed journal publications in this review were designed, implemented, and published in a unique collective research project by Ken Olson and a Merry Band of Military Retirees. Their groundbreaking research portfolio includes many geographical dimensions and the political ecology of chemical warfare. This includes the extensive exposure of civilians in Vietnam to these chemical agents, exposure of US military personnel in Southeast Asia and Panama, exposure of civilians near the private industrial sites that produced these rainbow agents in North America and the hazardous soil contamination that perseveres at these sites in Vietnam and the US. Given this impressive research depth and global scope, this review explores the unique way this research portfolio was developed by a Merry Band of Retirees through an interview with its leader, Ken Olson. It examines the goals and ethical orientation of these military veterans, the political ecology involved, the creative strategies they utilized to produce this innovative research, and how they changed the way Veterans exposed to chemical warfare agents are treated by the US government.

α-Vitamin E derivative, RRR-α-tocopheryloxybutyric acid inhibits the proliferation of prostate cancer cells

Aim： To investigate the activity of RRR-α-tocopheryloxybutyric acid （TOB）, an ether analog of RRR-α-tocopheryl succinate （VES）, in prostate cancer cells. Methods： VES and TOB were used to treat prostate cancer LNCaP, PC3, and 22Rvl cells and primary-cultured prostate fibroblasts. The proliferation rates were determined by MTT assay, the cell viabilities were determined by trypan blue exclusion assay, and the cell deaths were evaluated by using Cell Death Detection ELISA kit. The protein expression levels were determined by Western blot analysis. Results： The MTT growth assay demonstrated that TOB could effectively suppress the proliferation of prostate cancer cells, but not normal prostate fibroblasts. Mechanism dissections revealed that TOB reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis in prostate cancer cells similar to VES. In addition, both TOB and VES suppressed prostate-specific antigen （PSA） at the transcriptional level leading to reduced PSA protein expression. Furthermore, vitamin D receptor （VDR） expression increased after the addition of TOB. Conclusion： Our data suggests that the VES derivative, TOB, is effective in inhibiting prostate cancer cell proliferation, suggesting that TOB could be used for both chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic purposes in the future.

Effect of Ni particle size on the production of renewable methane from CO_(2) over Ni/CeO_(2) catalyst

Production of’renewable Methane’has attracted renewed research interest as a fundamental probe reaction and process for CO_(2)utilization through potential use in Cl fuel production and even for future space exploration technologies.CO_(2)methanation is a structure sensitive reaction on Ni/CeO_(2)catalysts.To precisely elucidate the size effect of the Ni metal center on the CO_(2)methanation performance,we prepared2%Ni/CeO_(2)catalysts with pre-synthesized uniform Ni particles(2,4 and 8 nm)on a high surface area CeO_(2)support.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)and ambient pressure X-ray photo spectroscopy(AP-XPS)characterization have confirmed that the catalyst structure and chemical state was uniform and stable under reaction conditions.The 8 nm sized catalyst showed superior methanation selectivity over the 4 and 2 nm counterparts,and the methanation activity in term of TOF is 10 times and 70 times higher than for the 4 and 2 nm counterparts,respectively.The DRIFTS studies revealed that the larger Ni(8 nm particles)over CeO_(2)efficiently facilitated the hydrogenation of the surface formate intermediates,which is proposed as the rate determining step accounting for the excellent CO_(2)methanation performance.

An Air Mass Based Approach to the Establishment of Spring Season Synoptic Characteristics in the Northeast United States

The Northeast United States spring is indicative of major meteorological and biological change though the seasonal boundaries are difficult to define and may even be changing with global climate warming. This research aims to obtain a synoptic meteorological definition of the spring season through an assessment of air mass frequency over the past 60 years. The validity of recent speculations that the onset and termination of spring have changed in recent decades with global change is also examined. The Spatial Synoptic Classification is utilized to define daily air masses over the region. Annual and seasonal baseline frequencies are identified and their differences are acquired to characterize the season. Seasonal frequency departures of the early and late segments of the period of record are calculated and examined for practical and statistical significance. The daily boundaries of early and late spring are also isolated and assessed across the period of record to identify important changes in the season’s initiation and termination through time. Results indicate that the Northeast spring season is dominated by dry air masses, mainly the Dry Moderate and Dry Polar types. Prior to 1975, more polar air masses are detected while after 1975 more moderate and tropical types are identified. Late spring is characterized by increased variability in all moist air mass frequencies. These findings indicate that, from a synoptic perspective, the season is dry through time but modern springs are also warmer than those of past decades and the initiation of the season is likely arriving earlier. The end of the season represents more variable day-to-day air mass conditions in modern times than detected in past decades.

Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Platinum-Based Nanocrystals and Their Electrocatalytic Applications in Fuel Cells

To achieve environmentally benign energy conversion with the carbon neutrality target via electrochemical reactions, the innovation of electrocatalysts plays a vital role in the enablement of renewable resources. Nowadays, Pt-based nanocrystals(NCs) have been identified as one class of the most promising candidates to efficiently catalyze both the half-reactions in hydrogen-and hydrocarbonbased fuel cells. Here, we thoroughly discuss the key achievement in developing shape-controlled Pt and Pt-based NCs, and their electrochemical applications in fuel cells. We begin with a mechanistic discussion on how the morphology can be precisely controlled in a colloidal system, followed by highlighting the advanced development of shape-controlled Pt, Pt-alloy, Pt-based core@shell NCs, Pt-based nanocages, and Pt-based intermetallic compounds. We then select some case studies on models of typical reactions(oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode and small molecular oxidation reaction at the anode) that are enhanced by the shape-controlled Pt-based nanocatalysts. Finally, we provide an outlook on the potential challenges of shape-controlled nanocatalysts and envision their perspective with suggestions.

The New Frontiers of Cybersecurity

Security technology is a special kind of companion technology that is developed for the underlying applications it serves. It is becoming increasingly critical in today＇s society, as these underlying applications become more and more interconnected, pervasive, and intelligent. In recent years, we have witnessed the prolifera- tion of cutting-edge computing and information technologies in a wide range of emerging areas, such as cloud computing.

Understanding Poison:Study of a Word Du from the Perspective of Comparative History

This article investigates the word Du(毒)in premodern Chinese medicine and culture.It highlights the paradoxical meaning of the word that served as a foundation for the therapeutic use of poisons in traditional Chinese medicine.The article then situates the study in a comparative framework.By comparing the Chinese notion of Du with the Greek concept of pharmakon,it demonstrates significant similarities on the medical use of poisons in the two cultures.It further identifies a striking difference:While the European pharmacy started to separate poisons from medicines in the medieval era,poisons remained an integral part of healing repertoire throughout imperial China.The article ends with offering some cultural explanations for this divergence,and more broadly,a distinct worldview as revealed by the intimate relationship between poisons and medicines in traditional Chinese pharmacy.

Role of Rehabilitation Counseling and Psychology in Working with Individuals with Work-related Chronic Pain Injuries: An Interdisciplinary Approach-Chronic Pain and Work Injuries in the United States

This paper addresses the topic of an interdisciplinary approach of chronic pain management from a biopsychosocial perspective. The first section provides an introduction to the definitions and theories of chronic pain and the various contributing factors (psychological, interpersonal/environmental and social support, and vocational). The second section presents the role of various health care professions (medical doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and rehabilitation counselors) and the evidence of their treatment effectiveness. The third section discusses the concept of an interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program (IPRP) and its evidence to support its effectiveness. Finally, the clinical implications of rehabilitation counseling and psychology as part of the inter-disciplinary program in treating individuals with chronic pain will be highlighted.

Comparative Marketing Strategies of Fitness Clubs in the United States and Canada

There has been a growing health concern in the United States and Canada due to physical inactivity and obesity. In response to these health concerns, fitness centers have been growing in popularity. The successful marketing strategy of fitness clubs requires the identification of a target market and development of a marketing mix （product/service, place, price and promotion） that will best satisfy the needs of this target market. This qualitative research was conducted to investigate whether there were differences in the marketing strategies implemented by fitness clubs to meet the needs of consumers. The research method consisted of a census of the 20 fitness clubs in the contiguous regions of southern Quebec and northeastern New York/northwestern Vermont. Each fitness center was visited by multiple observers. Systematic observations using a grid of 51 variables were compiled for each establishment. The results found many similarities in marketing strategies, however, differences were found in the place and personal selling variables. The New York/Vermont fitness clubs tended to be located in better, more visible locations, while Quebec fitness clubs had better establishment atmospherics and personal selling strategies. New York/Vermont fitness clubs could benefit from improving their establishment d6cor, lighting, scent management, music selections, and cleanliness. Their service could include more customization, empathy with their customers＇ needs, reservations, and customer satisfaction policies. Their sales personnel could be trained to better approach their customers, to make the sale, and to dress in more professional fitness clothing. Quebec fitness clubs could increase their fitness club visibility through outdoor signage, parking facilities, and more promotion.

New Terms for Compact Form of Electroweak Chiral Lagrangian

The compact form of the electroweak chiral Lagrangian is a reformulation of its original form and is expressed in terms of chiral rotated electroweak gauge fields, which is crucial for relating the information of underlying theories to the coefficients of the low-energy effective Lagrangian. However the compact form obtained in previous works is not complete. In this letter we add several new chiral invariant terms to it and discuss the contributions of these terms to the original electroweak chiral Lagrangian.

Separation of Atmospheric Circulation Patterns Governing Regional Variability of Arctic Sea Ice in Summer

In recent decades,Arctic summer sea ice extent(SIE)has shown a rapid decline overlaid with large interannual variations,both of which are influenced by geopotential height anomalies over Greenland(GL-high)and the central Arctic(CA-high).In this study,SIE along coastal Siberia(Sib-SIE)and Alaska(Ala-SIE)is found to account for about 65%and 21%of the Arctic SIE interannual variability,respectively.Variability in Ala-SIE is related to the GL-high,whereas variability in Sib-SIE is related to the CA-high.A decreased Ala-SIE is associated with decreased cloud cover and increased easterly winds along the Alaskan coast,promoting ice-albedo feedback.A decreased Sib-SIE is associated with a significant increase in water vapor and downward longwave radiation(DLR)along the Siberian coast.The years 2012 and 2020 with minimum recorded ASIE are used as examples.Compared to climatology,summer 2012 is characterized by a significantly enhanced GL-high with major sea ice loss along the Alaskan coast,while summer 2020 is characterized by an enhanced CA-high with sea ice loss focused along the Siberian coast.In 2012,the lack of cloud cover along the Alaskan coast contributed to an increase in incoming solar radiation,amplifying ice-albedo feedback there;while in 2020,the opposite occurs with an increase in cloud cover along the Alaskan coast,resulting in a slight increase in sea ice there.Along the Siberian coast,increased DLR in 2020 plays a dominant role in sea ice loss,and increased cloud cover and water vapor both contribute to the increased DLR.

Alpha-synuclein in mitochondrial dysfunction:opportunities or obstacles

Recent work suggests a link betweenα-synuclein(α-syn)and mitochondrial dysfunction;however,the mechanisms of howα-syn influences mitochondrial function are still unclear.Most notably,whetherα-syn plays a direct role during mitochondrial function and/or whether diseasedα-syn-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction is a potential modifiable risk factor in Parkinson’s disease(PD)is unknown.To date,mutations in more than eight genes cause familial PD(fPD)and have functions in diverse pathways including synaptic homeostasis,mitochondria maintenance,autophagy/lysosome,and ubiquitin-proteasome pathways.

噪声性听力损失机制研究方法及药物治疗进展

噪声性听力损失(noise-induced hearing loss,NIHL)是一项亟待解决的公共卫生问题。在所有听力损失中,有近1/3的听力损失可以归因为噪声暴露。NIHL的分子机制复杂,目前还没有特效药物能够预防和治疗NIHL,因此建立标准化的NIHL临床前研究模型、识别治疗的分子靶点,以有效开展NIHL的预防和药物治疗显得尤为重要。本文对NIHL的研究方法及药物治疗研究进行梳理总结,为NIHL的防治提供参考。