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Application (app)-based interventions using smartphones could provide effective alternatives to traditional treatment programs during and beyond the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The current quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent comparison group tested the effects of a smartphone app-based metacognitive intervention program with weekly mentoring sessions on the meta-cognitive beliefs, psychotic symptoms, and social functioning of individuals with schizophrenia from community psychosocial rehabilitation centers. The study was conducted with 20 participants with severe psychotic symptoms and low social functioning and 24 participants with relatively light psychotic symptoms and good social functioning as a comparison group. For the experimental group, the app-based intervention was combined with weekly contact mentoring sessions over 10 weeks. The comparison group received only the app-based intervention over 10 weekly sessions. No differences were observed between groups' total scores; however, the experimental group showed a tendency toward improved psychotic symptoms and social functioning over time, unlike the comparison group. These findings provide an empirical basis for managing schizophrenia symptoms with smartphone apps. [ Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 61 (2), 27–37.]

Purpose: This study explored the experiences of pregnant women with depressed mood participating in a group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program using video communication, based on Beck’s cognitive theory.Methods: The participants were six pregnant women out of 13 women who had participated in an 8-session group CBT program using video communication for women with depressed mood (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression score of ≥9). Data were collected from February 20 through March 25, 2021. In-depth individual interviews were conducted through a video conferencing platform at 1 month post-baseline. Thematic analysis was done.Results: Three themes, 10 subthemes, and 38 concepts were derived from experiences of participating in the 4-week group CBT program (twice a week). The first theme, entitled “continuing realization” had subthemes of “a negative and instable self,” “a selfish judgment that excludes others,” and “a strong belief in self-control.” The second theme, entitled “attempt to change for restoration” had subthemes of “shift to rational thinking,” “freedom from suppressed beliefs,” “tolerance of other people,” and “courage for self-expression.” The third theme, entitled “departure for a positive life,” had subthemes of “emotional healing,” “faith in oneself,” and “reestablishing the criteria for happiness.”Conclusion: Pregnant women with depressed mood expressed that continuing realizations and attempts to change supported their transition toward a positive direction of healing. Thus, they were able to change their distorted thinking into rational thinking through CBT using video communication. These findings support the use of group CBT using video communication with pregnant women who have depressed mood.

Background Endoscopic forehead lift with cortical tunneling is an effective option for rejuvenation of the upper third of the face. Although it has been considered safe and reliable, with relatively consistent long-term results, relapse and weakening of adhesion have been common problems.Methods We suggest the dual-tunneling method for overcoming these limitations. A total of 100 patients aged 17 to 65 years underwent forehead lifting with cortical tunneling by the senior author from August 2016 to December 2017. The single-tunnel method was applied in one half of the patients and the dual-tunnel method in the other half. Bilateral brow positions were measured immediately following surgery and 6 months later.Results For all cases, cortical tunneling was done at the central incision and both paramedian incisions; therefore, three tunnels were used in the control group and six tunnels in the experimental group. In the single-tunnel group, relapse distances were 2.39±0.83 mm for the medial brow and 3.26±0.91 mm for the lateral brow (6 months postoperatively; n=100). The dual-tunnel group showed significantly smaller (P

PDF file - 38K, Expression of XCR1 in specimens of metastatic ovarian carcinoma

PDF file - 21K, Alignment of XCL1 (NM_002995) and XCL2 (NM_003175) gene sequences using NCBI BLAST (NIH). Nucleotides that do not match are highlighted in yellow. Positions of the sequences used to construct primers for detection of XCL1 and XCL2 are indicated by blue arrows.

PDF file - 127K, Detailed description of some of the routine procedures used to generate the data

PDF file - 476KB Supplementary Figure 1. CX3CR1 is expressed in multiple types of ovarian carcinoma. Brown - CX3CR1; blue - hematoxylin. Images were generated using an Aperio ScanScope digital slide scanner. Magnification - 20X. Positive cases of Krukenberg tumors (core A7), yolk sac tumors (core B3), dysgerminoma (core C4), mature teratomas (core D3), Sertoli-stromal cell tumors (core E9), granular cell tumors (core F4), thecomas (core G7), and gynandroblastomas (core H10) are presented; these cases are detailed in Supplemental Table 4.

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PDF file - 66K, Expression of XCR1 in multiple organ metastatic cancer specimens

XLS file - 69K, Expression of XCR1 in specimens of ovarian carcinoma and normal ovary

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) is a deadly disease, and little is known about the mechanisms underlying its metastatic progression. Using human specimens and established cell lines, we determined that the G-protein–coupled seven-transmembrane fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1) is expressed in primary and metastatic ovarian carcinoma cells. Ovarian carcinoma cells robustly migrated toward CX3CL1, a specific ligand of CX3CR1, in a CX3CR1-dependent manner. Silencing of CX3CR1 reduced migration toward human ovarian carcinoma ascites fluid by approximately 70%. Importantly, adhesion of ovarian carcinoma cells to human peritoneal mesothelial cells was dependent on CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling. In addition, CX3CL1 was able to induce cellular proliferation. Together, our data suggest that the fractalkine network may function as a major contributor to the progression of EOC, and further attention to its role in the metastasis of this deadly malignancy is warranted. Mol Cancer Res; 10(1); 11–24. ©2011 AACR.

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PDF file - 225K, Immunohistochemical analysis of XCR1 expression in distant metastasis originating from different primary solid tumors: a) bladder to pelvic cavity, b) breast to armpit, c) cervix to pelvic cavity, d) colon to liver, e) endometrium to abdominal cavity, f) esophagus to mediastinum, g) kidney to right upper arm, h) larynx to neck, i) liver to abdominal cavity, j) lung to cerebellum, k) skin of left thigh to right groin, l) pancreas to omentum, m) prostate to costal bone, n) duodenum to mesentery, o) rectum to ovary, p) small intestine to mesentery, q) stomach to abdominal wall, r) thyroid to left frontal lobe, s) skin of penis to right groin, and t) lung to jejunum. Rabbit anti-human XCR1 antibodies (Novus Biologicals) were used at a 1:50 dilution; biotin-conjugated anti-rabbit antibodies were used at a 1:500 dilution. Brown - XCR1, blue - haemotoxylin. Images were generated using the Aperio ScanScope digital slide scanner. Bar = 50 micron.

PDF file - 65K, Expression of XCR1 RNA in samples of ovarian carcinoma and non-malignant ovary

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This study investigates what perspectives younger students considered and how they experienced the complexity of multiple perspectives about autonomous vehicle issues. Over the course of 6 weeks, 28 seventh-grade Korean students participated in role-play and group discussion to understand different perspectives on the issue. We qualitatively analyzed students’ positions toward these issues before and after the class and their perspectives in group decision making. The results indicate that students showed anxiety toward artificial intelligence systems, thus opposing it. They also explained where their concerns about the new technology arose to justify their views and opposition. We also found different patterns when students experienced uneasiness and conflicts in a group decision-making process. The patterns can be classified as (1) exploring multiple perspectives for decision making and (2) experiencing conflicts in working toward group consensus. Implementations for incorporating diverse perspectives into teaching strategies are discussed.

Social support plays a key role in dealing with various challenges accompanying cancer treatment and survivorship. The multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) is a valid measurement used globally to assess general support from social interpersonal relations. This study aims to validate the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the MSPSS among Korean women with breast cancer.Two independent cross-sectional studies collected data from 349 non-metastatic breast cancer survivors. Statistical analyses of confirmatory factor analyses,Factor analysis confirmed a three-factor construct (i.e., family, friends, and spouse) with good fit indices. Concurrent validity was verified by correlations with social well-being and interpersonal relationships, which are theoretically relevant concepts. Known-group validity was also confirmed by different MSPSS scores according to depression and symptom distress levels. Reliability was supported by good internal consistency and acceptable test-retest correlation coefficients.The findings demonstrate the MSPSS is a valid and reliable measurement to assess the extent to which women with breast cancer perceive social support from spouses, other family members, and friends in Korea. Further studies should verify the psychometric properties of the MSPSS in patients with other cancers beyond breast cancer. Health professionals could administer the MSPSS to evaluate the diverse resources of social support among cancer survivors.

Bulk nanobubbles, measuring less than 200 nm in water, have shown their salient properties in promoting growth in various species of plants and orthodox seeds, and as potential drug-delivery carriers in medicine. Studies of recalcitrant seeds have reported markedly increased germination rates with gibberellin treatment; however, neither the mechanism promoting germination nor the implication for food safety is well elucidated. In our study, recalcitrant wasabi (Eutrema japonicum) seeds treated with bulk oxygen nanobubbles (BONB) containing K+, Na+, and Cl− (BONB-KNaCl) showed significantly accelerated germination. As germination progressed, 99% of K+ ions in the BONB-KNaCl medium were absorbed by the seeds, whereas Ca2+ ions were released. These results suggest that the germination mechanism involves the action of K+ channels for migration of K+ ions down their concentration gradient and Ca2+ pumps for the movement of Ca2+ ions, the first potential discovery in germination promotion in recalcitrant seeds using nutrient solutions with BONB-KNaCl.

Purpose: This study presents the development of a group video communication-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program for depressed pregnant women. It also provides the results of a preliminary test of its effects on their depression, automatic thoughts, and dysfunctional attitudes. Methods: In this quasi-experimental single-group pre- and posttest design study, 13 pregnant women participated in a 4-week, eight-session group CBT program, based on Beck’s cognitive theory and using video communications from November 23, 2020 to January 30, 2021. Pregnant women between 14 and 32 weeks who were members of an online maternity and parenting community and residing in the cities of Changwon and Gimhae, Korea, were invited to voluntarily participate. Trained nurses led CBT sessions of 3–4 participants per group via video communication. Participants were assessed pre- and postintervention with self-report questionnaires for measurement of depression, automatic thought, and dysfunctional attitude after normality test according to the Shapiro-Wilk test of the variables, the data were analyzed using paired t-test and Pearson correlation coefficients.Results: Depression (t=7.90, p

There has been an ongoing discussion about the role and level of teacher scaffolding in developing student agency while also meeting intended learning outcomes in inquiry-based science classrooms. This study investigates how teachers practice classroom talk to scaffold students’ learning through the inquiry process and how teacher authority and student agency are embedded in a dialogical practice. A case study using an ethnographic approach was employed to understand the complexity of teachers’ and students’ interactions through classroom talk. Two elementary teachers and their students were involved in this study. Through classroom talk, the teachers demonstrated openness and flexibility in their dialogical turns to develop students’ agency in problem solving, while at the same time employed their authority to monitor and lead classroom talk toward students’ understanding of science concepts as part of the intended curriculum. They sought to emphasize scientific attitudes in the inquiry process by acknowledging the authority of science and scientists’ ways of problem solving. Accordingly, this study found that the teachers alternated between dialogical and authoritative voices in classroom talk to facilitate student learning with agency. Furthermore, this study suggests the importance of distinguishing teacher pedagogical authority from teacher authority as power dominance.

Scientific evidence-based reasoning has been recognized as a form of reasoning that characterizes scientific thinking. This study questioned what scientific evidence means in the various types of scientific activities; that is, this study explored the nature of scientific evidence (NOSE). To do this, previous studies were examined to understand how scientific evidence was analyzed, evaluated, and utilized during the scientific activities of scientists or students in scientific or everyday situations. Through this process, seven statements were identified to describe the NOSE. This study explains these seven NOSE statements, constructs a process of scientific evidence-based reasoning as a structured form by reflecting these seven statements comprehensively, and discusses the practical implications for teaching science in schools. Finally, the limitations of this study are discussed, and possible directions for future studies are suggested. It is believed that the list of NOSE characteristics can provide a starting point for further elucidation and discussion of scientific evidence and helping students’ science learning in more authentic ways. Keywords: evidence evaluation, evidence-based reasoning, evidence-based response, idea-based response, scientific evidence

It has been suggested that students’ epistemic understandings influence their practice of argumentation. However, how that influence takes place is not yet fully explained. To contribute to the answer to this question, this study explored elementary students’ epistemic understandings in their scientific argumentation. A 4-month qualitative case study with descriptive and interpretive emphases was conducted in a grade 5/6 science classroom in Canada. Nineteen students and their teacher participated in this study. Multiple methods for data collection were employed, including observation, interviews, and collecting students’ works. It was found that these students were aware of their epistemic understandings. Qualitative data analysis also revealed that students’ epistemic understandings can, yet do not always, influence their performance in argumentation by affecting the ways they think and do while engaged in argumentative dialogues. Moreover, it was found that elementary students were capable of refining their epistemic understandings through social interactions with peers and adapting their epistemic understandings in new contexts. Based on the findings, instructional suggestions are discussed to support the development of students’ epistemic understandings and argumentation skills.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous in the environment. They are highly toxigenic and carcinogenic. Probiotic bacteria isolated from fermented foods were tested to check their ability to degrade and/or detoxify PAHs. Five probiotic bacteria with distinct morphologies were isolated from a mixture of 26 fermented foods co-cultured with benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) containing Bushnell Haas minimal broth. Among them, B. velezensis (PMC10) significantly reduced the abundance of BaP in the broth. PMC10 completely degraded BaP presented at a lower concentration in broth culture. B. velezensis also showed a clear zone of degradation on a BaP-coated Bushnell Haas agar plate. Gene expression profiling showed significant increases of PAH ringhydroxylating dioxygenases and 4-hydroxybenzoate 3-monooxygenase genes in B. velezensis in response to BaP treatment. In addtion, both live and heat-killed B. velezensis removed BaP and naphthalene (Nap) from phosphate buffer solution. Live B. velezensis did not show any cytotoxicity to macrophage or human dermal fibroblast cells. Live-cell and cell-free supernatant of B. velezensis showed potential anti-inflammatory effects. Cell-free supernatant and extract of B. velezensis also showed free radical scavenging effects. These results highlight the prospective ability of B. velezensis to biodegrade and remove toxic PAHs from the human body and suggest that the biodegradation of BaP might be regulated by ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase-initiated metabolic pathway.

In this paper, we explore how science textbook authors reconciled their personal hopes with disciplinary and societal demands in their writing. Using a qualitative narrative storytelling research method, we interviewed four Canadian science textbook authors about their hopes and the challenges they encountered in their writing. To understand their hopes, we distinguished between transcendent and immanent hopes, a distinction that was motivated by our initial interpretation of the interviews. All the authors described difficulties in addressing social issues in their science textbook writing in the processes of authorization and resistance from science teachers, which located their hope in the transcendent domain. Yet, their immanent hopes with the agency also emerged in the discussion of teachers’ actions to develop and use alternative texts that engage with local socio-environmental issues, rather than on textbook content innovations. This suggests the need to support developing and experienced teachers as professionals in their decision-making about pedagogy and to equip them to critically examine available resources and write and share quality resources.

Students’ difficulties in scientific argumentation have been widely reported in the literature. Researchers argue that these difficulties result mainly from students’ lack of understanding of the g...

본 연구에서는 개복숭아꽃과 흰색, 분홍색 매화 꽃의 항균 활성과 항산화, 미백 효과에 대해 알아보고자 하였다. 먼저, 3종의 꽃추출물들은 4종의 균주 중에 S. aureus에 대해 우수한 항균 활성을 나타냈다. 흰매화 클로로포름층은 0.5 mg/mL 농도에서 S. aureus에 대해 84%의 항균 활성을 보였고 개복숭아꽃과 분홍매화 클로로포름층도 0.5 mg/mL 농도에서 각각 49, 30%의 항균 효과를 나타냈다. 3종의 꽃추출물들은 P. aeruginosa에 대해서도 항균 효과를 보였다. 개복숭아꽃 클로로포름층과 분홍매화 클로로포름층은 0.5 mg/mL 농도에서 각각 36, 30%의 항균활성을 보였다. 이 추출물들은 S. epidermidis와 E. coli에 대해서는 항균 활성을 보이지 않았다. 3종의 꽃추출물들은 HaCaT cell의 생존에 크게 영향을 미치지 않았다. 분홍매화 증류수층은 20, 40 μg/mL 농도에서 항산화 효과를 보였다. 분홍매화 에틸아세테이트층도 40 μg/mL에서 항산화 효과를 보였는데 이는 글루타치온 보다 우수하였다. 꽃추출물들은 B16F10 cell의 생존율에는 영향을 미치지 않았다. 꽃추출물들의 미백 효과는 개복숭아꽃 클로로포름층 40 μg/mL에서 18%가 나타났다. 이러한 결과들을 바탕으로 3종의 꽃추출물들은 항균 활성과 항산화, 미백 효과가 있는 원료로 판단할 수 있었다.

Staphylococcus aureus is currently a significant multidrug-resistant bacterium, causing severe healthcare-associated and community-acquired infections worldwide. The current antibiotic regimen against this pathogen is becoming ineffective due to resistance, in addition, they disrupt the normal microbiota. It highlights the urgent need for a pathogen-specific drug with high antibacterial efficacy against S. aureus. α-Viniferin, a bioactive phytochemical compound, has been reported to have excellent anti-Staphylococcus efficacy as a topical agent. However, so far, there were no clinical trials that have been conducted to elucidate its efficacy. The present study aimed to investigate the antibacterial efficacy of α-viniferin against S. aureus in a ten-day clinical trial. Based on the results, α-viniferin showed 50% minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC50 values) of 7.8 μg/ml in culture broth medium. α-Viniferin was administered in the nares three times a day for ten days using a sterile cotton swab stick. Nasal swab specimens were collected before (0 days) and after finishing the trial (10th day), and then analyzed. In the culture and RT-PCR-based analysis, S. ureus was reduced significantly: 0.01. In addition, 16S ribosomal RNA-based amplicon sequencing analysis showed that S. aureus reduced from 51.03% to 23.99% at the genus level. RNA-seq analysis was also done to gain insights into molecular mechanisms of α-viniferin against S. aureus, which revealed that some gene groups were reduced in 5-fold FC cutoff at two times MIC conditions. The study results demonstrate α-viniferin as a potential S. aureus-specific drug candidate.

Digital technologies are part of many children’s everyday lives. They use them for entertainment, information seeking and connecting with friends on social media. These shifts in children’s literacy practices have impacted the ways in which they learn. As more children are engaged with digital technologies, critical literacy practices are vital, particularly in our current “fake news” and misinformation era. This paper describes a case study that examined a class of elementary grade students’ engagement with critical literacy practices during their problem-based learning (PBL) projects in science classrooms. A group of English language learners (ELLs) in this classroom have attracted our attention throughout our study, particularly the unique ways they engage with critical literacy practices. Our findings suggest that students are using their critical literacy skills for evaluating the validity of online information and sources during their problem-based learning projects. We conclude with suggestions to support elementary science teachers who are interested in integrating critical literacy practices within a problem-based learning approach.

Purpose: This study was done to analyze research articles and explore research trends in auriculotherapy between 2010 and 2019 in Korean academic journals.Methods: Domestic databases including KMbase, RISS, KISS, and NDSL were searched for studies published between 2010 and 2019. Research trends were analyzed according to The STandards Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) guidelines including research design, control group type, and intervention details from a total of 78 domestic papers. Descriptive statistics were analyzed by frequency and percentage.Results: Most studies were conducted in nursing. Regarding research design, a quasi-experimental design with a no-treatment control group was most common. There were 12 conditions with 4 participant categories. The most common intervention was four-point acupuncture-buried therapy. Interventions conducted weekly with cessation of 2 days for 6 weeks were popular. Regarding dropouts, few studies reported side-effects, with personal reasons being the most frequently reported. However, 50% of the studies failed to provide adequate information regarding intervention details according to the STRICTA guidelines, such as the practitioner background, ear point used for intervention, and a flow diagram.Conclusion: Interventional studies on auriculotherapy have been steadily increasing and have included more diversified conditions. Future studies should investigate the effects of auriculotherapy with more rigorous design, and report more detailed information regarding interventions.

The study aims to assess cognitive function in women newly diagnosed with non-metastatic thyroid cancer before any treatment and to identify factors associated with cognitive problems.Korean women newly diagnosed with thyroid cancer awaiting initial surgical treatment (n = 130) completed neuropsychological tests and self-report questionnaires on symptom distress and psychological distress. Additionally, information on thyroid function was obtained through a medical chart audit. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analyses were performed to describe the incidence of cognitive problems and to identify possible predictors of neuropsychological performance.Approximately 95% of women newly diagnosed with thyroid cancer had impaired neuropsychological test scores on one or more tests of attention and cognitive control. Further analyses found that 78% of women met both the Global Deficit Score and the International Cancer and Cognition Task Force criteria for impairment. Finally, regression analyses found that older age, fewer years of education, greater depressed mood, and having a hypothyroid state but not having a comorbid condition, fatigue, sleep problems, symptom burden, or symptom interference were associated with worse neuropsychological test performance in this sample. Additional explorative regression analysis using mean T-scores corrected for age, education, and gender continued to find that hypothyroid state was associated with worse neuropsychological test performance.Findings suggest that individuals newly diagnosed with non-metastatic thyroid cancer are vulnerable to cognitive deficits at diagnosis before any treatment. As such, healthcare workers should assess individuals newly diagnosed with thyroid cancer diagnosis awaiting treatment for the disease for cognitive deficits and intervene to reduce symptom distress and optimize function.

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a substantial burden on the global medical system. COVID-19-related restrictions on movement and face-to-face interactions to prevent the spread of infection have increased the risk for patients with schizophrenia being overlooked by medical professionals due to increased demands on staff and facilities. Therefore, application-based treatments and interventions developed for smartphones could provide effective and essential alternatives to traditional face-to-face treatment programs for patients with schizophrenia during the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to test the effect of a smartphone app-based metacognitive intervention program on the metacognitive beliefs, psychotic symptoms, and social functioning of patients with schizophrenia. METHODS The study used a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent comparison group. Participants were patients with schizophrenia registered with community psychosocial rehabilitation centers. For the experimental group, the app-based intervention was combined with weekly contact mentoring sessions over 10 weeks (20 participants: severe psychotic symptoms and low social functions). The comparison group (24 participants: relatively light psychotic symptoms and good social functions) received only the app-based intervention over 10 weekly sessions. Changes in the Dysfunctional Metacognitive Beliefs (MCQ-30), Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and Personal and Social Performance Scale were assessed at baseline (pre-intervention), post-intervention, and four-week follow-up. Data were collected from November 18, 2020, until July 15, 2021. The data analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS/WIN version 26.0. RESULTS The experimental group showed a significant improvement in the Positive Beliefs about Worries on the MCQ-30, Need for Control (P = .039), and Delusions (P < .001), and the Total Score for positive and negative syndromes, along with a decline in general psychotic symptoms (P = .027) and improved total social function scores (P = .001) over the three assessment periods. CONCLUSIONS Although there were no differences in the measures between the two groups; however, the experimental group showed a tendency toward improved psychotic symptoms and social functioning over time; while the comparison group showed no change over the assessment periods. These findings can provide an empirical basis for using smartphone applications to manage the symptoms of patients with schizophrenia.