ELABELA RELAXES RAT PULMONARY ARTERY AND TRACHEA VIA BKCa, KV, and KATP CHANNELS

OBJECTIVE

Elabela is a newly discovered peptide hormone. This study aimed to determine the functional effects and mechanisms of action of elabela in rat pulmonary artery and trachea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Vascular rings isolated from the pulmonary arteries of male Wistar Albino rats were placed in chambers in the isolated tissue bath system. The resting tension was set to 1g. After the equilibration period, the pulmonary artery rings were contracted with 10^-6M phenylephrine. Once a stable contraction was achieved, elabela was applied cumulatively (10^-10-10^-6M) to the vascular rings. To determine the vasoactive effect mechanisms of elabela, the specified experimental protocol was repeated after the incubation of signaling pathway inhibitors and potassium channel blockers. The effect and mechanisms of action of elabela on tracheal smooth muscle were also determined by a similar protocol.

RESULTS

Elabela exhibited a concentration-dependent relaxation in the precontracted rat pulmonary artery rings (p<.001). Maximal relaxation level was 83% (pEC₅₀: 7.947 CI95(7.824-8.069)). Removal of the endothelium, indomethacin incubation, and dideoxyadenosine incubation significantly decreased the vasorelaxant effect levels of elabela (p<.001). Elabela-induced vasorelaxation levels were significantly reduced after iberiotoxin, glyburide, and 4-Aminopyridine administrations (p<.001). L-NAME, methylene blue, apamin, TRAM-34, anandamide, and BaCl₂ administrations did not cause a significant change in the vasorelaxant effect level of elabela (p=1.000). Elabela showed a relaxing effect on precontracted tracheal rings (p<.001). Maximal relaxation level was 73% (pEC₅₀: 6.978 CI95(6.791-7.153)). The relaxant effect of elabela on tracheal smooth muscle was decreased significantly after indomethacin, dideoxyadenosine, iberiotoxin, glyburide, and 4-Aminopyridine incubations (p<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Elabela exerted a prominent relaxant effect in the rat pulmonary artery and trachea. Intact endothelium, prostaglandins, cAMP signaling pathway, and potassium channels (BK_Ca, K_V, and K_ATP channels) are involved in the vasorelaxant effect of elabela. Prostaglandins, cAMP signaling pathway, BK_Ca channels, K_V channels, and K_ATP channels also contribute to elabela-induced tracheal smooth muscle relaxant effect.

Not All Yoga Styles Are the Same: An International Survey on Characteristics of Yoga Classes

Objectives: Yoga is a multicomponent activity that has been associated with many health benefits. Different yoga styles contain different combinations and durations of components (e.g., postures, breathing, meditation, relaxation, and chanting). A better description and quantification of yoga components within different styles are important in understanding how different yoga styles contribute to health outcomes. This survey aims to understand the general characteristics and components taught in different yoga styles. Design: An online international survey was sent to yoga teachers (18+ years with >1 year teaching experience) using snowball recruitment. Survey questions included demographic and professional characteristics of participants, specialized yoga style, and details of components typically taught in the class. The analysis included descriptive statistics and a comparison between teachers of traditional versus exercise-based versus therapy styles using χ² and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: Nine hundred and sixty-eight yoga teachers (76.8% female, mean age 43.8 ± 11.1 years) from 64 countries participated in the survey. When grouped according to primary yoga style taught, 70.6% of participants taught traditional (e.g., hatha or ashtanga), 18.4% exercise-based (e.g., vinyasa or power), and 11.0% therapy (e.g., restorative or gentle) styles. Nearly all teachers included physical postures, but breath techniques, chanting, and cleansing were included by significantly more traditional teachers (95.2%, 68.3%, 25.8%, respectively) compared with exercise-based (88.6%, 42.5%, 7.2%) and therapy teachers (93.0%, 43.0%, 10.0%). Variations were reported in the time allocated to each of these class components. Physical postures took up 50.0% of total class time for traditional styles, 60.9% for exercise-based, and 53.9% for therapy styles (p < 0.001). Conversely, breath techniques, meditation, relaxation, and chanting took significantly more of the class time for traditional and therapy compared with exercise-based styles. However, teachers from all styles regarded yoga poses, breathing, meditation, and relaxation as equally important in the yoga class. Conclusions: Exercise-based yoga styles unsurprisingly dedicate more time to physical postures and less time to nonphysical components than traditional and therapy yoga styles. However, all yoga teachers report valuing and including multiple components of yoga practice regardless of the primary style of teaching, which is reflective of the holistic nature of yoga practice. Further research into the benefits of the specific component combinations in different yoga styles is needed to better understand the full potential of yoga practice for health.

Hypercontractile Cardiac Phenotype in Mice with Migraine-Associated Mutation in the Na+,K+-ATPase α2-Isoform

Two α-isoforms of the Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase (α₁ and α₂) are expressed in the cardiovascular system, and it is unclear which isoform is the preferential regulator of contractility. Mice heterozygous for the familial hemiplegic migraine type 2 (FHM2) associated mutation in the α₂-isoform (G301R; α₂^+/G301R mice) have decreased expression of cardiac α₂-isoform but elevated expression of the α₁-isoform. We aimed to investigate the contribution of the α₂-isoform function to the cardiac phenotype of α₂^+/G301R hearts. We hypothesized that α₂^+/G301R hearts exhibit greater contractility due to reduced expression of cardiac α₂-isoform. Variables for contractility and relaxation of isolated hearts were assessed in the Langendorff system without and in the presence of ouabain (1 µM). Atrial pacing was performed to investigate rate-dependent changes. The α₂^+/G301R hearts displayed greater contractility than WT hearts during sinus rhythm, which was rate-dependent. The inotropic effect of ouabain was more augmented in α₂^+/G301R hearts than in WT hearts during sinus rhythm and atrial pacing. In conclusion, cardiac contractility was greater in α₂^+/G301R hearts than in WT hearts under resting conditions. The inotropic effect of ouabain was rate-independent and enhanced in α₂^+/G301R hearts, which was associated with increased systolic work.

["Wellness Bubbles" for caregivers, a way to improve the quality of life at work]

Improving the well-being at work of caregivers is a major challenge for our healthcare system. Both global and local solutions must be proposed. At the Marie-Lannelongue hospital, located in the Paris region, a structure dedicated to the well-being of caregivers at work, the "Bubble", has been set up. How does it work and what are its beneficial effects? How have the professionals received it? Is it an example to follow? These are some of the questions that a survey has enabled us to answer.

Prevalence of Different Approaches to Clinical Hypnosis: Bridging Research and Practice

A recent survey conducted by the Society of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis Task Force for Efficacy Standards in Hypnosis Research found that clinicians reported using one or more of several different styles of hypnosis in their work. The most common of these was Ericksonian, used by over 2/3rds of clinicians, followed by hypnotic relaxation therapy and traditional hypnosis. Surprisingly, a little less than a 3rd of respondents indicated using the evidence-based practice of hypnotherapy. The present paper discusses these findings from the perspective of optimal survey methodology, examines areas of differences and overlap among response options, and considers the question of the evidence base for the practice of clinical hypnosis.

The Effectiveness of Psychological Interventions for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term disorder that significantly impairs somatic, emotional, and psychological functioning. The objective of this review is to identify, appraise, and synthesize the effects of psychological interventions (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), emotional disclosure (ED), group therapy (GT), mindfulness (M), patient education (PE), and relaxation (R)) on biopsychosocial outcomes in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A systematic search of all relevant existing randomized clinical trials (RCTs) was conducted using the following online bibliographic databases: JSTOR, PubMed, PsycNET, and The Cochrane Library. Reference lists were searched for additional reports. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2.0) was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. After the selection process, 57 articles were included and 392 were excluded. Three separate meta-analyses were conducted involving psychological interventions as the main variables, showing: (1) significant positive medium effect sizes for average values (Hedges-g = 0.399, Z = 0.399, p = 0.009); (2) significant positive large effect sizes for maximum values (Hedges-g = 0.856, Z = 4.223, p < 0.001); and (3) non-significant results for minimum values (Hedges-g = -0.047, Z = -0.335, p = 0.738). These results demonstrate that, when grouped, psychological interventions are, on average, moderately effective in treating RA. Overall, this review shows consistent, supportive evidence that psychological interventions can significantly contribute to the standard medical care of RA patients. However, more high-quality, large-sample RCTs still need to confirm these findings.

More Stages Decrease Dissipation in Irreversible Step Processes

The dissipation in an irreversible step process is reduced when the number of steps is increased in any refinement of the steps in the process. This is a consequence of the ladder theorem, which states that, for any irreversible process proceeding by a sequence of relaxations, dividing any relaxation step into two will result in a new sequence that is more efficient than the original one. This results in a more-steps-the-better rule, even when the new sequence of steps is not reoptimized. This superiority of many steps is well established empirically in, e.g., insulation and separation applications. In particular, the fact that the division of any step into two steps improves the overall efficiency has interesting implications for biological evolution and emphasizes thermodynamic length as a central measure for dissipation.

Molecular Dynamics and Diffusion in Amorphous Solid Dispersions Containing Imidacloprid

The main goal of this study is to develop an experimental toolbox to estimate the self-diffusion coefficient of active ingredients (AI) in single-phase amorphous solid dispersions (ASD) close to the glass transition of the mixture using dielectric spectroscopy (DS) and oscillatory rheology. The proposed methodology is tested for a model system containing the insecticide imidacloprid (IMI) and the copolymer copovidone (PVP/VA) prepared via hot-melt extrusion. For this purpose, reorientational and the viscoelastic structural (α-)relaxation time constants of hot-melt-extruded ASDs were obtained via DS and shear rheology, respectively. These were then utilized to extract the viscosity as well as the fragility index of the dispersions as input parameters to the fractional Stokes-Einstein (F-SE) relation. Furthermore, a modified version of Almond-West (AW) formalism, originally developed to describe charge diffusion in ionic conductors, was exercised on the present model system for the estimation of the AI diffusion coefficients based on shear modulus relaxation times. Our results revealed that, at the calorimetric glass-transition temperature (T_g), the self-diffusion coefficients of the AI in the compositional range from infinite dilution up to 60 wt % IMI content lied in the narrow range of 10^-18-10^-20 m² s^-1, while the viscosity values of the dispersions at T_g varied between 10⁸ Pa s and 10¹⁰ Pa s. In addition, the phase diagram of the IMI-PVP/VA system was determined using the melting point depression method via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), while mid-infrared (IR) spectroscopy was employed to investigate the intermolecular interactions within the solid dispersions. In this respect, the findings of a modest variation in melting point at different compositions stayed in agreement with the observations of weak hydrogen bonding interactions between the AI and the polymer. Moreover, IR spectroscopy showed the intermolecular IMI-IMI hydrogen bonding to have been considerably suppressed, as a result of the spatial separation of the AI molecules within the ASDs. In summary, this study provides experimental approaches to study diffusivity in ASDs using DS and oscillatory rheology, in addition to contributing to an enhanced understanding of the interactions and phase behavior in these systems.

Characterizing Phase Separation of Amorphous Solid Dispersions Containing Imidacloprid

Amorphous-Amorphous phase separation (AAPS) is an important phenomenon that can impede the performance of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs). The purpose of this study was to develop a sensitive approach relying on dielectric spectroscopy (DS) to characterize AAPS in ASDs. This includes detecting AAPS, determining the size of the active ingredient (AI) discrete domains in the phase-separated systems, and accessing the molecular mobility in each phase. Using a model system consisting of the insecticide imidacloprid (IMI) and the polymer polystyrene (PS), the dielectric results were further confirmed by confocal fluorescence microscopy (CFM). The detection of AAPS by DS was accomplished by identifying the decoupled structural (α-)dynamics of the AI and the polymer phase. The α-relaxation times corresponding to each phase correlated reasonably well with those of the pure components, implying nearly complete macroscopic phase separation. Congruent with the DS results, the occurrence of the AAPS was detected by means of CFM, making use of the autofluorescent property of IMI. Oscillatory shear rheology and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) detected the glass transition of the polymer phase but not that of the AI phase. Furthermore, the otherwise undesired effects of interfacial and electrode polarization, which can appear in DS, were exploited to determine the effective domain size of the discrete AI phase in this work. Here, stereological analysis of CFM images probing the mean diameter of the phase-separated IMI domains directly stayed in reasonably good agreement with the DS-based estimates. The size of phase-separated microclusters showed little variation with AI loading, implying that the ASDs have presumably undergone AAPS upon manufacturing. DSC provided further support to the immiscibility of IMI and PS, as no discernible melting point depression of the corresponding physical mixtures was detected. Moreover, no signatures of strong attractive AI-polymer interactions could be detected by mid-infrared spectroscopy within this ASD system. Finally, dielectric cold crystallization experiments of the pure AI and the 60 wt % dispersion revealed comparable crystallization onset times, hinting at a poor inhibition of the AI crystallization within the ASD. These observations are in harmony with the occurrence of AAPS. In conclusion, our multifaceted experimental approach opens new venues for rationalizing the mechanisms and kinetics of phase separation in amorphous solid dispersions.

Myocardial steatosis impairs left ventricular diastolic-systolic coupling in healthy humans

Mounting evidence suggests that myocardial steatosis contributes to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, but definitive evidence in humans is lacking due to confounding comorbidities. As such, we utilized a 48-h food restriction model to acutely increase myocardial triglyceride (mTG) content - measured by ¹ H magnetic resonance spectroscopy - in 27 young healthy volunteers (13 men/14 women). Forty-eight hours of fasting caused a more than 3-fold increase in mTG content (P < 0.001). Diastolic function - defined as early diastolic circumferential strain rate (CSRd) - was unchanged following the 48-h fasting intervention, but systolic circumferential strain rate was elevated (P < 0.001), indicative of systolic-diastolic uncoupling. Indeed, in a separate control experiment in 10 individuals, administration of low-dose dobutamine (2 μg/kg/min) caused a similar change in systolic circumferential strain rate as was found during 48 h of food restriction, along with a proportionate increase in CSRd, such that the two metrics remained coupled. Taken together, these data indicate that myocardial steatosis contributes to diastolic dysfunction by impairing diastolic-systolic coupling in healthy adults, and suggest that steatosis may contribute to the progression of heart disease. KEY POINTS: Preclinical evidence strongly suggests that myocardial lipid accumulation (termed steatosis) is an important mechanism driving heart disease. Definitive evidence in humans is limited due to the confounding influence of multiple underlying comorbidities. Using a 48-h food restriction model to acutely increase myocardial triglyceride content in young healthy volunteers, we demonstrate an association between myocardial steatosis and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. These data advance the hypothesis that myocardial steatosis may contribute to diastolic dysfunction and suggest myocardial steatosis as a putative therapeutic target.

Molecular Dynamics of Jelly Candies by Means of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry

¹H spin-lattice Nuclear Magnetic Resonance relaxation studies have been performed for different kinds of Haribo jelly and Vidal jelly in a very broad frequency range from about 10 kHz to 10 MHz to obtain insight into the dynamic and structural properties of jelly candies on the molecular level. This extensive data set has been thoroughly analyzed revealing three dynamic processes, referred to as slow, intermediate and fast dynamics occurring on the timescale of 10^-6 s, 10^-7 s and 10^-8 s, respectively. The parameters have been compared for different kinds of jelly for the purpose of revealing their characteristic dynamic and structural properties as well as to enquire into how increasing temperature affects these properties. It has been shown that dynamic processes in different kinds of Haribo jelly are similar (this can be treated as a sign of their quality and authenticity) and that the fraction of confined water molecules is reduced with increasing temperature. Two groups of Vidal jelly have been identified. For the first one, the parameters (dipolar relaxation constants and correlation times) match those for Haribo jelly. For the second group including cherry jelly, considerable differences in the parameters characterizing their dynamic properties have been revealed.

Synthesis and mechanical properties of highly structure-controlled Zr-based metallic glasses by thermal rejuvenation technique

A novel thermal rejuvenation treatment facility for Zr-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) was developed, consisting of a rapid heating and indirect liquid nitrogen quenching process. The re-introduction of free volume into thermally rejuvenated BMG results in more disordered state. The rejuvenation improves ductility, implying that the re-introduced free volume aids in the recovery of the shear transformation zone (STZ) site and volume. Actually, it is confirmed that relaxation significantly reduces STZ volume; however, it is recovered by thermal rejuvenation. Molecular dynamics simulations also indicate that rejuvenation enhances homogeneous deformation. The current findings indicate that the thermal rejuvenation method is extremely effective for recovering or improving the ductility of metallic glass that has been lost due to relaxation.

Complementary Therapy Learning in the Setting of Lung Transplantation: A Single-Center Observational Study of Appropriation and Efficacy

Transplanted patients could benefit from complementary techniques. This prospective single-center, open study, performed in a tertiary university hospital, evaluates the appropriation and efficacy of a toolbox-kit of complementary techniques. Self-hypnosis, sophrology, relaxation, holistic gymnastics, and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) were taught to adult patients scheduled for double-lung transplantation. Patients were asked to use them before and after transplantation, as needed. The primary outcome was appropriation of each technique within the first three postoperative months. Secondary outcomes included efficacy on pain, anxiety, stress, sleep, and quality-of-life. Among the 80 patients included from May 2017 to September 2020, 59 were evaluated at the 4th postoperative month. Over the 4359 sessions performed, the most frequent technique used before surgery was relaxation. After transplantation, the techniques most frequently used were relaxation and TENS. TENS was the best technique in terms of autonomy, usability, adaptation, and compliance. Self-appropriation of relaxation was the easiest, while self-appropriation of holistic gymnastics was difficult but appreciated by patients. In conclusion: the appropriation by patients of complementary therapies such as mind-body therapies, TENS and holistic gymnastics is feasible in lung transplantation. Even after a short training session, patients regularly practiced these therapies, mainly TENS and relaxation.

Inline NMR via a Dedicated V-Shaped Sensor

Process monitoring and control require dedicated and reliable measures which reflect the status of the process under investigation. Although nuclear magnetic resonance is known to be a versatile analytical technique, it is only seldomly found in process monitoring. Single-sided nuclear magnetic resonance is one well known approach for being applied in process monitoring. The dedicated V-sensor is a recent approach that allows the inline investigation of materials in a pipe non-destructively and non-invasively. An open geometry of the radiofrequency unit is realized using a tailored coil, enabling the sensor to be applied for manifold mobile applications in in-line process monitoring. Stationary liquids were measured, and their properties were integrally quantified as the basis for successful process monitoring. The sensor, in its inline version, is presented along with its characteristics. An exemplary field of application is battery production in terms of anode slurries; thus, the first results on graphite slurries will demonstrate the added value of the sensor in process monitoring.

Influence of the Hydrogen Doping Method on the Atomic Structure, Mechanical Properties and Relaxation Behaviors of Metallic Glasses

The interaction of metallic glasses (MGs) with hydrogen can trigger many interesting physical, chemical and mechanical phenomena. However, atomic-scale understanding is still lacking. In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are employed to study the atomic structure, mechanical properties and relaxation behaviors of H-doped Ni50Al50 MGs doped by two methods. The properties of H-doped MGs are determined not only by the hydrogen content but also by the doping method. When H atoms are doped into the molten state of samples, H atoms can fully diffuse and interact with metallic atoms, resulting in loose local atomic structures, homogeneous deformation and enhanced β relaxation. In contrast, when H atoms are doped into as-cast MGs, the H content is crucial in affecting the atomic structure and mechanical properties. A small number of H atoms has little influence on the elastic matrix, while the percolation of shear transformation zones (STZs) is hindered by H atoms, resulting in the delay of shear band (SB) formation and an insignificant change in the strength. However, a large number of H atoms can make the elastic matrix loose, leading to the decrease in strength and the transition of the deformation mode from SB to homogeneous deformation. The H effects on the elastic matrix and flow units are also applied to the dynamic relaxation. The deformability of H-doped Ni50Al50 MGs is enhanced by both H-doping methods; however, our results reveal that the mechanisms are different.

Water Dynamics in Highly Concentrated Protein Systems-Insight from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry

¹H spin-lattice relaxation experiments have been performed for water-Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) mixtures, including 20%wt and 40%wt of BSA. The experiments have been carried out in a frequency range encompassing three orders of magnitude, from 10 kHz to 10 MHz, versus temperature. The relaxation data have been thoroughly analyzed in terms of several relaxation models with the purpose of revealing the mechanisms of water motion. For this purpose, four relaxation models have been used: the data have been decomposed into relaxation contributions expressed in terms of Lorentzian spectral densities, then three-dimensional translation diffusion has been assumed, next two-dimensional surface diffusion has been considered, and eventually, a model of surface diffusion mediated by acts of adsorption to the surface has been employed. In this way, it has been demonstrated that the last concept is the most plausible. Parameters describing the dynamics in a quantitative manner have been determined and discussed.

Reducing Health Anxiety in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using Video Testimonials: Pilot Assessment of a Video Intervention

BACKGROUND

Health anxiety has many damaging effects on patients with chronic illness. Physicians are often unable to alleviate concerns related to living with a disease that has an impact on daily life, and unregulated websites can overrepresent extreme anxiety-inducing outcomes. Educational clinician video interventions have shown some success as an acute anxiolytic in health settings. However, little research has evaluated if peer-based video interventions would be a feasible alternative or improvement.

OBJECTIVE

This pilot study assesses the efficacy of anxiety reduction for patients with Crohn disease (CD) and those with ulcerative colitis (UC) by showing patient testimonial videos during hospital visits. It investigates the degree to which patient testimonials can affect state anxiety, and whether patients are comfortable enough with the technology to share their stories.

METHODS

Patients with CD (n=51) and those with UC (n=49) were shown testimonial videos of patients with CD during their physician consultations at Kitasato University Kitasato Institute Hospital in Japan. The video testimonials were collected from Dipex Japan, the Japan branch of an international organization specializing in understanding patient experiences. Patients completed a Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety before and after viewing the videos, a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) survey before the videos, and satisfaction surveys. Patients receiving infusion therapy participated in the study while receiving treatment to minimize hospital workflow disruption.

RESULTS

Anxiety reduction, on the Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety, was significant in the entire cohort both when viewed as an ordinal variable (P=.003, t₉₈=1086.5) and as a continuous variable (P=.01, t₉₄=-2.54, 90% CI -3.47 to -0.72). Eighty percent (n=15) of patients with high HADS Anxiety (HADS-A) scores and 71% (n=24) of patients with high starting state anxiety experienced reduced anxiety after watching testimonials. Patients with high state anxiety but low HADS-A scores experienced anxiety reduction (69%, n=16). Forty-two percent (n=100) of patients responded that they would share their stories for future users. When patients with UC received testimonials from patients with CD, 71% (n=49) of patients reported that they were relevant despite differences in condition.

CONCLUSIONS

Our pilot results suggest that patient testimonial videos can reduce illness-related state anxiety for patients with CD and those with UC, especially in those with higher baseline state anxiety. The success of this study in reducing anxiety and achieving patient involvement suggests that video interventions for reducing anxiety might be a low-cost intervention that could scale to any number of hospitals, suggesting that technology can help scale up efforts to record and share patient testimonials. Future work can establish whether patient testimonials can be helpful in other contexts, such as before major surgeries or when a family member receives a difficult diagnosis.

Art as relaxation for tic disorders: a pilot randomised control study

BACKGROUND

Despite the known benefits of art therapy, there are a limited number of studies on art therapy for tic disorders. This pilot randomised controlled study investigated effects of art as a relaxation technique for tic disorders.

METHODS

Twenty-two children aged 7-9 years were randomly allocated to art intervention (n= 11) and control (n= 11) groups. Pre- and post-test measurements included the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), Heart Rate Variability (HRV), and Hassles Scale for Children (HSC).

RESULTS

Art as relaxation significantly decreased the YGTSS total score, motor tic frequency, motor tic intensity, motor tic complexity, vocal tic complexity, and total daily stressors compared to the control group. The intervention group showed significantly greater physiological relaxation, as indicated by increases in HRV parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Art appears to be an effective relaxation technique for tic disorders. Extensive research is necessary for rigorous examination of its effectiveness.

"I Assumed It Would Be Somebody Who Had a Stroke That Was Doing This": Views of Stroke Survivors, Caregivers, and Health Professionals on Tailoring a Relaxation and Mindfulness Intervention

Stroke survivors and informal caregivers experience high levels of stress and anxiety, linked to heightened risk of secondary stroke in survivors. Relaxation and mindfulness could reduce stress and anxiety; being most effective when tailored to the target populations. Aims of the PPI include to: (1) consult on possible alterations to an existing relaxation and mindfulness intervention, delivered via YouTube/DVD and (2) discuss relevance and preference of prompts and cues designed to facilitate the daily practice of the intervention. Eleven UK PPI contributors were consulted during 2020: four stroke survivors (F = 2, M = 2), three caregivers (F = 1, M = 2), and four HCPs (F = 4) (range = 23-63 years). Contributors watched the existing intervention and provided feedback via online discussions. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Five themes were identified, highlighting several necessary alterations to the intervention: "Who represents the stroke population?"; "The paradox of age"; "Specifically selected language"; "Visual presentation of the intervention"; and the "Audio qualities". Contributors ranked the prompts and cues in order of preference with setting alarms and email alerts as the most popular. The PPI consultations resulted in several alterations enabling a revised version of the intervention. Including a PPI consultation at an early stage of the research improves the relevance and appropriateness of the research. The revised intervention is more representative of the stroke population thus more likely to be practised by survivors and caregivers, which will enhance the extent of effectiveness, reducing the risk of a secondary stroke.

Relaxation Model of the Relations between the Elastic Modulus and Thermal Expansivity of Thermosetting Polymers and FRPs

This research was completed in the development of studies devoted to relations between the elastic modulus (MoE) and thermal expansivity (CTe) of different materials. This study, based on experimental data, confirmed the models of the relations between MoE and CTe under normal and heating temperatures for thermosetting epoxy polymers and glass-fiber FRPs in two variants (unfilled and filled by mineral additives), after the usual glassing and prolonged thermal conditioning (thermo-relaxation). The experiment was based on dilatometric and elastic deformation testing. Two models of MoE/CTe were tested: Barker's model and our authors relaxation model (MoE = f(CTe)), which is based on previous modelling of the non-linearity of the physical properties of polymers' supramolecular structures. The result show that the models' constants depend on composition; Barker's model is applicable only to polymers with satisfying agreement degrees in the range 10-20%; our model is applicable to polymers and FRPs with satisfying agreement degrees in the range of 6-18%.

Optical and Electrophysical Properties of Vinylidene Fluoride/Hexafluoropropylene Ferroelectric Copolymer Films: Effect of Doping with Porphyrin Derivatives

Polymer films doped by different porphyrins, obtained by crystallization from the acetone solutions, differ in absorption and fluorescence spectra, which we attribute to the differences in the structuring and composition of the rotational isomers in the polymer chains. According to the infrared spectroscopy data, the crystallization of the films doped with tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) proceeds in a mixture of α- and γ-phases with TGTG^- and T₃GT₃G^- conformations, respectively. Three bonds in the planar zigzag conformation ensures the contact of such segments with the active groups of the porphyrin macrocycle, significantly changing its electronic state. Structuring of the films in the presence of TPP leads to an increase in the low-voltage AC-conductivity and the registration of an intense Maxwell-Wagner polarization. An increased conductivity by an order of magnitude in TPP-doped films was also observed at high-voltage polarization. The introduction of TPP during the film formation promotes the displacement of the chemical attachment defects of "head-to-head" type in the monomeric units into the surface. This process is accompanied by a significant increase in the film surface roughness, which was registered by piezo-force microscopy. The latter method also revealed the appearance of hysteresis phenomena during the local piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ measurements.

Low-field NMR investigations on dynamics of crude oil confined into nanoporous silica rods and white powder

In the present study, to mimic the natural confinement of crude oils, model experiments are conducted with crude oils having different physical properties and maltenes of parent crude oils without asphaltenes confined into engineered nanoporous silica rods with pore diameters of 2.5 and 10.0 nm and white powdered nanoporous silica with pore diameters of 2.5 and 4.0 nm. This will help with suggesting potential treatments for enhancing crude oil recovery. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) relaxometry has been applied to achieve this goal. The nanoporous proxies resemble real-life nanoporous rocks of reservoirs. The dynamics of confined crude oils with different ^oAPI gravity deviate from bulk dynamics, and deviation changes depending on the ^oAPI gravity. This suggests that treatments must be decided appropriately before crude oil production. Similar treatments could be applied for light and medium-heavy crude oils. Mathematical analysis of NMR relaxation curves of confined crude oils with different fractions of SARA (saturates, aromatics, resins, asphaltenes) indicates that the conventional SARA approach needs a better definition for the confined state of matter. The NMR relaxation behavior of confined maltenes shows that resin molecules might act like saturates in natural confinement with various scale pores from nano to micro and even macro, or aromatics might show resin-like behaviors. Confinement of brine and a light crude oil into white powdered nanoporous silica proxies demonstrates that brine could be utilized along with some additives such as nanoparticles for oil recovery. Therefore, these issues must be evaluated in deciding the proper treatments for crude oil production.

Feasibility of the virtual reality-based assessments in patients with panic disorder

Introduction

Recurrences and diagnostic instability of panic disorder (PD) are common and have a negative effect on its long-term course. Developing a novel assessment tool for anxiety that can be used in a multimodal approach may improve these problems in panic disorder patients. This study assessed the feasibility of virtual reality-based assessment in panic disorder (VRA-PD).

Methods

Twenty-five patients with PD (ANX group) and 28 healthy adults (CON group) participated in the study. VRA-PD consisted of four modules based on the key components of cognitive behavior therapy for an anxiety disorder: "Baseline evaluation module" (M0), "Daily environment exposure module" (M1), "Relaxation module" (M2), and "Interoceptive exposure module" (M3). Multiple evaluations, including self-rating anxiety scores (AS) and physiological responses [heart rate variability (HRV) index], were performed in three steps at M1, M2, and M3, and once at M0. Comparisons between patients with PD and healthy controls, factor analysis of variables in VRA-PD, changes in responses within modules, and correlation analysis between variables in VRA-PD and anxiety symptoms assessed by psychological scales were performed.

Results

All participants completed the VRA-PD without discontinuation. The ANX group reported significantly higher AS for all steps and a smaller HRV index in M1 (steps 1 and 2) and M2 (step 1). Repeated-measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed significant interaction effects for AS in M1 (F = 4.09, p = 0.02) and M2 (F = 4.20, p = 0.02), and HRV index in M2 (F = 16.22, p < 0.001) and M3 (F = 21.22, p = 0.02). The HRV index only indicated a good model fit for the three-factor model, reflecting the construct of the VRA-PD. Both AS and HRV indexes were significantly correlated with anxiety and depression symptoms.

Discussion

The current study provides preliminary evidence that the VRA-PD could be a valid anxiety behavior assessment tool.

Bubble Relaxation Dynamics in Homopolymer DNA Sequences

Understanding the inherent timescales of large bubbles in DNA is critical to a thorough comprehension of its physicochemical characteristics, as well as their potential role on helix opening and biological function. In this work, we employ the coarse-grained Peyrard-Bishop-Dauxois model of DNA to study relaxation dynamics of large bubbles in homopolymer DNA, using simulations up to the microsecond time scale. By studying energy autocorrelation functions of relatively large bubbles inserted into thermalised DNA molecules, we extract characteristic relaxation times from the equilibration process for both adenine-thymine (AT) and guanine-cytosine (GC) homopolymers. Bubbles of different amplitudes and widths are investigated through extensive statistics and appropriate fittings of their relaxation. Characteristic relaxation times increase with bubble amplitude and width. We show that, within the model, relaxation times are two orders of magnitude longer in GC sequences than in AT sequences. Overall, our results confirm that large bubbles leave a lasting impact on the molecule's dynamics, for times between 0.5-500 ns depending on the homopolymer type and bubble shape, thus clearly affecting long-time evolutions of the molecule.