Dynamic changes of behaviors, dentate gyrus neurogenesis and hippocampal miR-124 expression in rats with depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress

The depression-like behavior phenotype,neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and miR-124 expression in the hippocampus are the focus of current research on the pathogenesis of depression and antidepressant therapy.The present study aimed to clarify the dynamic changes of depression-like behavior,dentate gyrus neurogenesis and hippocampal miR-124 expression during depression induced by chronic stress to reveal pathological features at different stages of depression and to further provide insight into depression treatment.Chronic unpredictable mild stress depression models were established by exposing Sprague-Dawley rats to various mild stressors,including white noise,thermal swimming,stroboscopic illumination,soiled cages,pairing with three other stressed animals,cold swimming,tail pinch,restraint and water and food deprivation.Chronic unpredictable mild stress model rats underwent dynamic observation from 1 to 8 weeks and were compared with a control group(normal feeding without any stressors).To observe changes in the depression-like behavior phenotype during chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression,a sucrose preference test was used to evaluate the degree of anhedonia.An open-field test was used to evaluate locomotor activity and anxiety status.Compared with the control group,chronic unpredictable mild stress rats lost weight but did not have a depression-like behavioral phenotype at 1-4 weeks.Chronic unpredictable mild stress rats presented decreased sucrose preference and locomotor activity at 5-8 weeks.In addition,chronic unpredictable mild stress rats did not have significant anxiety-like behavior during 1-8 weeks of modeling.To observe neurogenesis dysfunctions and changes in neuronal number in the dentate gyrus during chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression,markers(DCX and DCX/BrdU)of neural proliferation and differentiation and the neuronal marker NeuN were assessed by immunofluorescence.Compared with the control group,neurogenesis and the neuronal number in the dentate gyrus did not change from 2 to 6 weeks;however,neural proliferation and differentiation in the dentate gyrus decreased,and the number of neurons decreased until the eighth week in the chronic unpredictable mild stress group.Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays and fluorescence in situ hybridization were used to measure the expression of hippocampal miR-124 during chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression.The results showed that the expression of hippocampal miR-124 was unchanged during the first 4 weeks but increased from 5 to 6 weeks and decreased from 7 to 8 weeks compared with the control group.These findings indicate that during chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression,the behavioral phenotype,miR-124 expression in the hippocampus,neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and neuronal numbers showed dynamic changes,which suggested that various pathological changes occur at different stages of depression.All experimental procedures and protocols were approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine of China in March 2015.

The Mediating Effect of Body Dissatisfaction in Association between Obesity and Dietary Behavior Changes for Weight Loss in Chinese Children

Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the mediating effect of body dissatisfaction in correlation between obesity and dietary behavior changes for weight loss(DBCWL).Methods A total of 680 primary and middle school students were included in this study. Their body height, weight, and waistline were effectively measured, and they were also evaluated to assess their body dissatisfaction, perception of dietary behaviors, and DBCWL. The correlation among these factors was analyzed using mediating effect models.Results The prevalence of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity was significantly higher in males than in females(P < 0.05). Overweight/obesity, abdominal obesity, and body dissatisfaction significantly increased the risk for DBCWL(OR = 2.57, 2.77, and 1.95, respectively). Overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity significantly increased the risk for body dissatisfaction(OR = 6.00 and 4.70,respectively). Significant mediating effects of body dissatisfaction were observed in correlation between overweight/obesity and DBCWL and between abdominal obesity and DBCWL(OR = 2.20 and 1.92,respectively;P < 0.05), and the proportions of mediating effects among the total effects were 48.89% and 46.60%, respectively.Conclusion Body dissatisfaction might play an important mediating effect in association between DBCWL and obesity, which indicates that guiding children to correctly recognize their body might be more conducive than promoting obese children toward weight loss through dietary behavior changes.

Microstructural changes during heating of super duplex stainless steel and its thermal deformation behavior

Microstructural changes during heating of highly alloyed Cr26Ni7 type super duplex stainless steel （SDSS2607） and its thermal deformation behavior were investigated. At different heating rates, the mechanism of phase transition from y phase to 6 phase and growth modes of ~ phase differed. Variations in microstructures for as- cast SDSS2607 during heat preservation at 1 220 ~C indicated two kinds of transformations from y phase to 6 phase. In-situ observations of microstructural changes during the tensile process at 1 050 showed a mutual coordination between y and 6 phases. When the true strain increased, the mutual coordination between 7 and 6 phases was damaged. Subsequently, cracks nucleated at the ＂y/g interface. With the increase in temperature, the strength of as- cast SDSS2607 decreased while its plasticity increased. Its thermoplasticity was poor, and the reduction in area of tensile specimens was less than 80%. When the deformation strain of hot compression increased, the stable deformation zone in the heat processing maps enlarged gradually. Moreover, the unstable deformation zones were extended.

Effects of Mechanical Activation Methods on Thermo-oxidation Behaviors of Pyrite

To explore the effects of mechanical activation methods(ball mill, planetary mill and rod mill) on the oxidation and the spontaneous combustion of pyrite, the kinetic curves of non-activated pyrite and mechanically activated pyrite were created by simultaneous thermal analysis. The structural characteristics and changes of mechanically activated pyrite were investigated by X-ray diffraction and SEM, and the relationship between the mean diameter and the grinding time was obtained by using a laser particle size analyzer. The kinetic model of pyrite and the kinetic parameters were deduced using Bagchi method. The relationship between the kinetic parameters indicates that, pyrite activated by ball milling shows the best thermal stability at the same diameter. By comparing and analyzing the X-ray diffraction patterns, results show that different mechanical activation ways played different roles in structural changes of pyrite.

Establishment and validation of an adherence prediction system for lifestyle interventions in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most common liver disease worldwide,affecting about 1/4th of the global population and causing a huge global economic burden.To date,no drugs have been approved for the treatment of NAFLD,making the correction of unhealthy lifestyles the principle method of treatment.Identifying patients with poor adherence to lifestyle correction and attempting to improve their adherence are therefore very important.AIM To develop and validate a scale that can rapidly assess the adherence of patients with NAFLD to lifestyle interventions.METHODS The Exercise and Diet Adherence Scale(EDAS)was designed based on com-pilation using the Delphi method,and its reliability was subsequently evaluated.Demographic and laboratory indicators were measured,and patients completed the EDAS questionnaire at baseline and after 6 months.The efficacy of the EDAS was evaluated in the initial cohort.Subsequently,the efficacy of the EDAS was internally verified in a validation cohort.RESULTS The EDAS consisted of 33 items in six dimensions,with a total of 165 points.Total EDAS score correlated significantly with daily number of exercise and daily reduction in calorie intake(P<0.05 each),but not with overall weight loss.A total score of 116 was excellent in predicting adherence to daily reduction in calorie intake(>500 kacl/d),(sensitivity/specificity was 100.0%/75.8%),while patients score below 97 could nearly rule out the possibility of daily exercise(sensitivity/specificity was 89.5%/44.4%).Total EDAS scores≥116,97-115,and<97 points were indicative of good,average,and poor adherence,respectively,to diet and exercise recommendations.CONCLUSION The EDAS can reliably assess the adherence of patients with NAFLD to lifestyle interventions and have clinical application in this population.

Comparison of Public Health Nurse’s Lifestyle Counseling Skills for Clients with Different Readiness of Behavior Changes in Primary Care Settings

Purpose: Public health nurses (PHNs) are required to assess the readiness of the clients and provide lifestyle counseling accordingly. The purpose of this study was to compare the lifestyle counseling provided for clients with different levels of readiness based on self-evaluations and independent assessment. Methods: Participants were PHNs with 10 years’ experience or less. Lifestyle counseling skills were measured through a simulated counseling session in a primary setting lasting up to 30 minutes, followed by a review session, where the participant provided self-evaluations, and the simulated client provided others-evaluations, of the session. The simulated clients played the role of clients at either the pre-contemplation or contemplation stage of preparedness as per the stages of behavior change theory. Results: The self-evaluation results showed that the mean scores for five of the six skill categories, are lower in the precontemplation-stage client cases than in the contemplation-stage client cases, and significantly so for two skill categories. The others-evaluations showed significantly lower mean scores for all skill categories in the precontemplation cases than in the contemplation cases. Conclusion: The PHNs and simulated clients agreed that lifestyle counseling skills were inadequate for the precontemplation cases, as compared with the contemplation cases. The lifestyle counseling skills of PHNs with less experience may not be well-adjusted to the readiness of the client, indicating difficulties in supporting less prepared clients.

In vivo imaging of structural,metabolic and functional brain changes in glaucoma

Glaucoma, the world's leading cause of irreversible blindness, is a condition for which elevated intraocular pressure is currently the only modifiable risk factor. However, the disorder can continue to progress even at reduced intraocular pressure. This indicates additional key factors that contribute to the etiopathogenesis. There has been a growing amount of literature suggesting glaucoma as a neurodegenerative disease of the visual system. However, it remains debatable whether the observed pathophysiological conditions are causes or consequences. This review summarizes recent in vivo imaging studies that helped advance the understanding of early glaucoma involvements and disease progression in the brains of humans and experimental animal models. In particular, we focused on the non-invasive detection of early structural and functional brain changes before substantial clinical visual field loss in glaucoma patients; the eye-brain interactions across disease severity; the metabolic changes occurring in the brain's visual system in glaucoma; and, the widespread brain involvements beyond the visual pathway as well as the potential behavioral relevance. If the mechanisms of glaucomatous brain changes are reliably identified, novel neurotherapeutics that target parameters beyond intraocular pressure lowering can be the promise of the near future, which would lead to reduced prevalence of this irreversible but preventable disease.

The Effectiveness of Hyperlipidemia Prevention Intervention Designed to Affect Behavior Change: Focus on Changes in Health Behavior

Hyperlipidemia prevention intervention for behavior change was conducted on subjects in their 30s and 40s to evaluate changes in health behavior and investigate the effectiveness of these changes, with respect to early prevention and improvement of disease. Subjects were middle-aged individuals aged 30 - 49, suffering from serum lipid abnormalities. Intervention designed to affect behavior change was implemented for 3 weeks in 11 employees (nine males, two females) at five workplaces. Intervention mainly consisted of improving self-efficacy. The study’s purpose was explained and the written consent was obtained from subjects. Subjects filled questionnaires (characteristics, history of present illness, health behavior, self-efficacy scale for prevention of hyperlipidemia, etc.) both before and after intervention. Subjects recorded their physical activity using accelerometers and dietary intake photographically. Each subject created realistic behavior goals and recorded their progress using self-monitoring charts. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics;therefore, pre- and post-intervention data were compared. Physical activity and achievement rate of goals during the first week and over the next 2 - 3 weeks were compared. Health behavior scores showed modification of behavior in a desirable direction after intervention compared with those before intervention. No significant difference in self-efficacy before and after intervention was observed. However, the subscale for diet was significantly higher after intervention compared with that before intervention. Steps, total calories, and activity calories were increased in the second and third weeks compared with those in the first week. Three weeks of intervention resulted in health behavior changing in a desirable direction. We infer that intervention in the form of self-monitoring using accelerometers that make physical activity visible was effective in leading to behavior change.

Timing theory integrated nursing combined behavior change integrated theory of nursing on primiparous influence

BACKGROUND The comprehension and utilization of timing theory and behavior change can offer a more extensive and individualized provision of support and treatment alternatives for primipara.This has the potential to enhance the psychological well-being and overall quality of life for primipara,while also furnishing healthcare providers with efficacious interventions to tackle the psychological and physiological obstacles encountered during the stages of pregnancy and postpartum.AIM To explore the effect of timing theory combined with behavior change on selfefficacy,negative emotions and quality of life in patients with primipara.METHODS A total of 80 primipara cases were selected and admitted to our hospital between August 2020 and May 2022.These cases were divided into two groups,namely the observation group and the control group,with 40 cases in each group.The nursing interventions differed between the two groups,with the control group receiving routine nursing and the observation group receiving integrated nursing based on the timing theory and behavior change.The study aimed to compare the pre-and post-nursing scores of Chinese Perceived Stress Scale(CPSS),Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale(EPDS),Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS),breast milk knowledge,self-efficacy,and SF-36 quality of life in both groups.RESULTS After nursing,the CPSS,EPDS,and SAS scores of the two groups was significantly lower than that before nursing,and the CPSS,EPDS,and SAS scores of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P=0.002,P=0.011,and P=0.001 respectively).After nursing,the breastfeeding knowledge mastery,selfefficacy,and SF-36 quality of life scores was significantly higher than that before nursing,and the breastfeeding knowledge mastery(P=0.013),self-efficacy(P=0.008),and SF-36 quality of life(P=0.011)scores of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group.CONCLUSION The integration of timing theory and behavior change integrated theory has been found to be an effective approach in alleviating negative mood and stress experienced by primipara individuals,while also enhancing their selfefficacy and overall quality of life.This study focuses on the key concepts of timing theory,behavior change,primipara individuals,negative mood,and quality of life.

Latent Possibility for a Change of the Fertility Behaviors of Rural－Urban Migrants

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Livelihood Vulnerability and Adaptation for Households Engaged in Forestry in Ecological Restoration Areas of the Chinese Loess Plateau

Chinese Loess Plateau has achieved a win-win situation concerning ecological restoration and socio-economic development.However,synergistic development may not be realized at the local scale.In areas undergoing ecological restoration,livelihood vulner-ability may be more pronounced due to the inflexibility,policy protection,and susceptibility to climate and market changes in forestry production.Although this issue has attracted academic interest,empirical studies are relatively scarce.This study,centered on Jiaxian County,Shaanxi Province of China explored the households’livelihood vulnerability and coping strategies and group heterogeneity con-cerned with livelihood structures or forestry resources through field investigation,comprehensive index assessment,and nonparametric tests.Findings showed that:1)the percentage of households with high livelihood vulnerability indicator(LVI)(>0.491)reached 46.34%.2)Eight groups in livelihood structures formed by forestry,traditional agriculture,and non-farm activities were significantly different in LVI,land resources(LR),social networks(SN),livelihood strategies(LS),housing characteristics(HC),and socio-demo-graphic profile(SDP).3)The livelihood vulnerability of the groups with highly engaged/reliance on jujube(Ziziphus jujuba)forest demonstrated more prominent livelihood vulnerability due to the increased precipitation and cold market,where the low-engaged with reliance type were significantly more vulnerable in LVI,SDP,LR,and HC.4)The threshold of behavioral triggers widely varied,and farmers dependent on forestry livelihoods showed negative coping behavior.Specifically,the cutting behavior was strongly associated with lagged years and government subsidies,guidance,and high returns of crops.Finally,the findings can provide guidance on the dir-ection of livelihood vulnerability mitigation and adaptive government management in ecologically restored areas.The issue of farmers’livelihood sustainability in the context of ecological conservation calls for immediate attention,and eco-compensations or other forms of assistance in ecologically functional areas are expected to be enhanced and diversified.

A randomized controlled trial of Promoting Physical Activity in Regional and Remote Cancer Survivors(PPARCS)

Background:Physical activity(PA)is important for cancer survivors.Trials of remotely delivered interventions are needed to assist in reaching under-served non-metropolitan cancer survivors.The objective of this study was to ascertain whether wearable technology,coupled with health coaching was effective in increasing PA in breast and colorectal cancer survivors living in regional and remote areas in Australia.Methods:Cancer survivors from 5 states were randomized to intervention and control arms.Intervention participants were given a Fitbit Charge 2TMand received up to 6 telephone health coaching sessions.Control participants received PA print materials.Accelerometer assessments at baseline and 12 weeks measured moderate-to-vigorous PA(MVPA),light PA,and sedentary behavior.Results:Eighty-seven participants were recruited(age=63±11 years;74(85%)female).There was a significant net improvement in MVPA of 49.8 min/week,favoring the intervention group(95%confidence interval(95%CI):13.6-86.1,p=0.007).There was also a net increase in MVPA bouts of 39.5 min/week(95%CI:11.9-67.1,p=0.005),favoring the intervention group.Both groups improved light PA and sedentary behavior,but there were no between-group differences.Conclusion:This’s the first study to demonstrate that,when compared to standard practice(i.e.,PA education),a wearable technology intervention coupled with distance-based health coaching,improves MVPA in non-metropolitan cancer survivors.The results display promise for the use of scalable interventions using smart wearable technology in conjunction with phone-based health coaching to foster increased PA in geographically disadvantaged cancer survivors.

Distributional and behavioral responses of the wintering Oriental Storks to drought in China’s largest freshwater lake

Extreme droughts are increasing in frequency and severity globally as a result of climate change.Developing understanding of species’responses to drought is crucial for their conservation,especially in regions experi-encing increased aridity.Although numerous studies have investigated birds’responses to drought,the emphasis has primarily been on landbirds.Drought can significantly alter the wetland environments that waterbirds inhabit,but the response of waterbirds to drought remains understudied.In this study,we surveyed the distri-bution and behavior of Oriental Storks(Ciconia boyciana)in Poyang Lake,which is the largest freshwater lake in China.Results indicate that drought-induced catchment areas at the lowest water level limited the total popu-lation size of Oriental Storks in the sub-lakes.Sub-lakes with large catchment areas at the lowest water level demonstrated a capacity to support a larger population of wintering Oriental Storks.Over time,Oriental Storks exhibited a gradual concentration in Changhu Lake,characterized by larger catchments,after resource depletion in sub-lakes with smaller catchments.Additionally,the duration of Oriental Storks’vigilance and moving be-haviors decreased significantly compared with that observed before the drought.After the drought,Oriental Storks increased their foraging efforts,as evidenced by increased presence in deeper water and reaching their heads and necks into deeper water to forage,higher search rates,but lower foraging rates.In accordance with area-restricted search theory,reductions in habitat quality resulting from drought,including extensive fish die-offs,forced Oriental Storks to increase their foraging efforts.Sustaining a specific water area in sub-lakes during droughts can preserve resource availability,which is crucial for the conservation of Oriental Storks.Imple-menting measures such as water level control and micro-modification of lake bottoms in sub-lakes might mitigate the impact of drought on the piscivorous Oriental Storks.

Use of a community-led prevention strategy to enhance behavioral changes towards Ebola virus disease prevention:a qualitative case study in Western Côte d’Ivoire

Background:Starting in December 2013,the Ebola virus disease(EVD)epidemic spread in West Africa through five countries(Sierra Leone,Liberia,Guinea,Nigeria,and Mali),killing over 11,300 people.In partnership with Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Health,the International Rescue Committee instigated a community-led strategy aimed at promoting behavior change in order to prevent potential Ebola outbreaks in the country.The strategy was implemented in Western districts bordering Liberia,Guinea,and Mali.This study aims to analyze the community-led strategy,to document lessons learned from the experience,and to capitalize on the achievements.Methods:A case study in four districts of Western Côte d’Ivoire,i.e.Biankouma,Danané,Odiennéand Touba districts was carried out.Qualitative data in 12 villages(i.e.,three villages per district)was collected from 62 healthcare workers,community leaders,and ordinary community members.Data was de-identified,coded and analyzed using a thematic approach.Results:The community-led strategy was socially accepted in the villages.Even though some community leaders reported that sensitization had been,at times,constrained by a lack of equipment,the people interviewed demonstrated accurate understanding of information about prevention practices.Some practices were easily adopted,while others remained difficult to implement(e.g.,ensuring safe and dignified dead body management).Conclusion:This research demonstrates that sensitization efforts led by well-integrated and respected community leaders can be conducive of behavior change.Lessons learned from the community-led strategy could be applied to future disease outbreaks.

Pro-Environmental Civic Participation in the USA: The Effects of Social Media, Pro-Environmental Lifestyle and Climate Experiences

This study addresses the link between social media use and pro-environmental civic participation considering the moderating effect of social media affordances (public realm) on one hand, and lifestyle behaviors and climate change experiences (personal realm) on the other. We combine communication theory and behavioral models and using a sample of USA individuals (N = 7225) based on the American Trends Panel to predict variations in pro-environmental behavior. We show that social networks rather than information are more effective in predicting pro-environmental behavior. Moreover, a pro-environmental lifestyle as well as climate change experiences at the community level increase the likelihood for pro-environmental participation. However, affordances related to socioeconomic variations generate variations to pro-environmental civic participation. We conclude that in order to capture the depth of pro-environmental civic participation, it is necessary to theoretically and empirically bridge between private and public expressions of pro-environmental awareness.

Does knowledge of physical activity recommendations increase physical activity among Chinese college students？ Empirical investigations based on the transtheoretical model

Background: Based on the transtheoretical model, the current study investigated whether awareness of physical activity(PA) recommendations had an impact on the stages of PA behavior change and levels of PA among Chinese college students.Methods: In Study 1, with a cross-sectional study design, 9826 students were recruited, and their knowledge of international PA recommendations,PA stage distribution, and self-reported PA level were surveyed. Pearson's χ2 test was used to test whether those participants who were aware and not aware of PA guidelines were equally distributed across the stages of PA behavior, and independent t test was conducted to test the group difference in the actual levels of PA. In Study 2, 279 students who were not aware of the PA recommendations were randomly allocated to either an intervention group or a control group, and only those in the intervention group were presented with international PA guidelines. In both groups,students' PA stages and PA level were examined before the test and then 4 months post-test. Mc Nemar's test for correlated proportions and repeated-measures analysis of variance were conducted to examine the changes in PA stage membership and PA level after the intervention.Results: Study 1 results revealed that only 4.4% of the surveyed students had correct knowledge of PA recommendations. Those who were aware of the recommendations were in later stages of PA behavior(χ~2(4) = 167.19, p < 0.001). They were also significantly more physically active than those who were not aware of the recommendations(t(443.71) = 9.00, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.53). Study 2 results demonstrated that the intervention group participants who were at the precontemplation and contemplation stages at the pre-test each progressed further in the PA stages in the post-test(χ~2(1) = 112.06, p < 0.001; χ~2(1) = 118.76, p = 0.03, respectively), although no significant change in PA level was observed(t(139) < 1, p = 0.89).Conclusion: The results showed that awareness of the PA recommendations was associated with higher stages and levels of PA behavior, and a brief educational exposure to PA recommendations led to improved stages of PA behavior but no change in the levels of PA among Chinese college students. More effective public health campaign strategies are needed to promote the dissemination of the PA recommendations and to raise the awareness of the Chinese student population.

HIV-infected Female Sex Workers High Risk Behavior and Attitude Changes in Kaiyuan City, Yunnan Province, China

Objective To investigate the attitude and sexual behavior status and change among HIV positive female workers in entertainment sites in Kaiyuan city, Yunnan province, China. The key information should be applied in the integrated intervention program in future. Methods A cohort survey among HIV positive female workers was conducted during 12 months, between 2010 and 2012. All the risk sexual behavior and attitude were collected for assessment for the potential secondary transmission to sexual partners. Results Of 99 HIV positive women who sell sex in Kaiyuan city, 99 participated in the survey at baseline, 80, 80, 75, and 75 at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-ups. The percentage of participants who reported consistently used condoms in the last one month ranged between 94.5% and 95.5%. The client volume in the last one month, income per sex and age group were significant related with non-insistent condom use with their clients. Conclusion It was suggested that integrated intervention program package should include 100 percent condom use promotion for the HIV positive FSW with all sexual partners, and also, include socially support involved.

Effects of temperature change on elastic behavior of steel beams with semi-rigid connections

Based on the nonlinear displacement-strain relationship,the virtual work principle method was used to establish the nonlinear equilibrium equations of steel beams with semi-rigid connections under vertical uniform loads and temperature change.Considering the non-uniform temperature distribution across the thickness of beams,the formulas for stresses and vertical displacements were presented.On the basis of a flowchart for analysis of the numerical example,the effect of temperature change on the elastic behavior of steel beams was investigated.It is found that the maximal stress is mainly influenced by axial temperature change,and the maximal vertical displacement is principally affected by temperature gradients.And the effect of temperature gradients on the maximal vertical displacement decreases with the increase of rotational stiffness of joints.Both the maximal stress and vertical displacement decrease with the increase of rotational stiffness of joints.It can be concluded that the effects of temperature changes and rotational stiffness of joints on the elastic behavior of steel beams are significant.However,the influence of rotational stiffness becomes smaller when the rotational stiffness is larger.

Application of network meta-analysis in the field of physical activity and health promotion

Continued advancement in the field of physical activity and health promotion relies heavily on the synthesis of rigorous scientific evidence.As such,systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials have led to a better understanding of which intervention strategies are superior(i.e.,produce the greatest effects)in physical activity-based health behavior change interventions.Indeed,standard meta-analytic approaches have allowed researchers in the field to synthesize relevant experimental evidence using pairwise procedures that produce reliable estimates of the homogeneity,magnitude,and potential biases in the observed effects.However,pairwise meta-analytic procedures are only capable to discerning differences in effects between a select intervention strategy and a select comparison or control condition.In order to maximize the impact of physical activity interventions on health-related outcomes,it is necessary to establish evidence concerning the comparative efficacy of all relevant physical activity intervention strategies.The development of network meta-analysis(NMA)-most commonly used in medical-based clinical trials-has allowed for the quantification of indirect comparisons,even in the absence of direct,head-to-head trials.Thus,it stands to reason that NMA can be applied in physical activity and health promotion research to identify the best intervention strategies.Given that this analysis technique is novel and largely unexplored in the field of physical activity and health promotion,care must be taken in its application to ensure reliable estimates and discernment of the effect sizes among interventions.Therefore,the purpose of this review is to comment on the potential application and importance of NMA in the field of physical activity and health promotion,describe how to properly and effectively apply this technique,and suggest important considerations for its appropriate application in this field.In this paper,overviews of the foundations of NMA and commonly used approaches for conducting NMA are provided,followed by assumptions related to NMA,opportunities and challenges in NMA,and a step-by-step example of developing and conducting an NMA.

Assessment of hindlimb motor recovery affer severe thoracic spinal cord injury in rats: classification of CatWalk XT■ gait analysis parameters

Assessment of locomotion recovery in preclinical studies of experimental spinal cord injury remains challenging. We studied the CatWalk XT■gait analysis for evaluating hindlimb functional recovery in a widely used and clinically relevant thoracic contusion/compression spinal cord injury model in rats. Rats were randomly assigned to either a T9 spinal cord injury or sham laminectomy. Locomotion recovery was assessed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan open field rating scale and the CatWalk XT■gait analysis. To determine the potential bias from weight changes, corrected hindlimb(H) values(divided by the unaffected forelimb(F) values) were calculated. Six weeks after injury, cyst formation, astrogliosis, and the deposition of chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans were assessed by immunohistochemistry staining. Compared with the baseline, a significant spontaneous recovery could be observed in the CatWalk XT■parameters max intensity, mean intensity, max intensity at%, and max contact mean intensity from 4 weeks after injury onwards. Of note, corrected values(H/F) of CatWalk XT■parameters showed a significantly less vulnerability to the weight changes than absolute values, specifically in static parameters. The corrected CatWalk XT■parameters were positively correlated with the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan rating scale scores, cyst formation, the immunointensity of astrogliosis and chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan deposition. The CatWalk XT■gait analysis and especially its static parameters, therefore, seem to be highly useful in assessing spontaneous recovery of hindlimb function after severe thoracic spinal cord injury. Because many CatWalk XT■parameters of the hindlimbs seem to be affected by body weight changes, using their corrected values might be a valuable option to improve this dependency.