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Global prevalence of Type 2 diabetes (T2D), a serious public health problem, is projected to increase from 8.8% to 10.4% by 2040 (International Diabetes Federation, n.d.). Patients strive to achieve [...], Objective: Family--partner support has been associated with better blood glucose control, self-care adherence, and quality of life in adult patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D). "Miscarried helping" has described interactions between youth with chronic diseases and their family members, in which a family member is helpful, but efforts are perceived as negative by the patient. Miscarried helping has not, however, been measured in adults with diabetes, which was the purpose of our study. Method: Data from a randomized clinical trial (n = 268) were analyzed to establish the psychometric properties and correlates of an adaptation of a measure of miscarried helping developed in pediatric populations, for use with adults with T2D. Results: The Helping for Health Inventory--Couples Version (HHI--C) was found to have three underlying factors and demonstrated adequate internal consistency across time ([alpha] at baseline = .86, 4 months = .87, 8 months = .86, and 12 months = .83) and showed high test--retest reliability (p < .01) over a 12-month period. Convergent validity was partially supported, because baseline HHI--C was positively associated with maladaptive conflict resolution strategies (p = .03) and negatively associated with adaptive conflict resolution strategies (p = .04) and diabetes knowledge (p < .01). The HHI--C did not correlate with body mass index or hemoglobin Alc, a measure of glycemic control. The HHI--C was positively associated with diabetes distress (p < .01) and depressive symptoms (p = .01). Discussion: This study is the 1st known reporting of the psychometric properties of a measure of miscarried helping for adults with T2D. This valid measure of miscarried helping could be useful in future studies evaluating novel, relationship-based approaches to assist adults with T2D in disease management. Keywords: miscarried helping, Type 2 diabetes, marital satisfaction

Immunosenescence refers to the development of weakened and/or dysfunctional immune responses associated with aging. Several commensal bacteria can be pathogenic in immunosuppressed individuals. Although Klebsiella pneumoniae is a commensal bacterium that colonizes human mucosal surfaces, the gastrointestinal tract, and the oropharynx, it can cause serious infectious diseases, such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and liver abscesses, primarily in elderly patients. However, the reason why K. pneumoniae is a more prevalent cause of infection in the elderly population remains unclear. This study aimed to determine how the host's intestinal immune response to K. pneumoniae varies with age. To this end, the study analyzed an in vivo K. pneumoniae infection model using aged mice, as well as an in vitro K. pneumoniae infection model using a Transwell insert co-culture system comprising epithelial cells and macrophages. In this study, we demonstrate that growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6), released by intestinal macrophages that recognize K. pneumoniae, inhibits bacterial translocation from the gastrointestinal tract by enhancing tight-junction barriers in the intestinal epithelium. However, in aging mice, Gas6 was hardly secreted under K. pneumoniae infection due to decreasing intestinal mucosal macrophages; therefore, K. pneumoniae can easily invade the intestinal epithelium and subsequently translocate to the liver. Moreover, the administration of Gas6 recombinant protein to elderly mice prevented the translocation of K. pneumoniae from the gastrointestinal tract and significantly prolonged their survival. From these findings, we conclude that the age-related decrease in Gas6 secretion in the intestinal mucosa is the reason why K. pneumoniae can be pathogenic in the elderly, thereby indicating that Gas6 could be effective in protecting the elderly against infectious diseases caused by gut pathogens. Author summary: Aging causes a weakened/dysfunctional human immune system, reducing the ability to combat pathogens. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related immunosenescence is critical for the development of preventive therapies against bacterial infectious diseases in elderly individuals. Klebsiella pneumoniae is a representative "pathobiont" that causes serious systemic infections such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and liver abscesses, mainly in the elderly. However, it remains unclear how K. pneumoniae is a more prevalent cause of infection in the elderly population. Here, we show that growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6), released by intestinal macrophages that recognize K. pneumoniae, inhibits bacterial invasion into the intestinal epithelium and subsequent translocation to the liver. However, in elderly mice, Gas6 is hardly secreted due to decreased intestinal mucosal macrophages; therefore, K. pneumoniae can easily translocate to the liver from the gastrointestinal tract. We concluded that the reason K. pneumoniae can be pathogenic to the elderly is the age-related decrease in Gas6 secretion in the intestinal mucosa. Moreover, we revealed that the administration of Gas6 to elderly mice significantly prevented systemic translocation of orally infected K. pneumoniae. Our findings provide new insights into the prevention of infectious diseases in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium diboride (MgB2) thin films on r-cut sapphire (r-Al2O3) single crystals were fabricated by a precursor, which was obtained at room temperature via a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method using a Nd:YAG laser, and an in situ postannealing process. The onset superconducting transition, Tconset, and zero-resistivity transition, Tczero, were observed at 33.6 and 31.7 K, respectively, in the MgB2 thin films prepared by a Mg-rich target with a ratio of Mg:B = 3:2. The critical current density, Jc, calculated from magnetization measurements reached up to 0.9 × 106 A cm−2 at 20 K and 0 T. The broad angular Jc peak was found at 28 K when the magnetic fields were applied in a direction parallel to the film surface (θ = 90°). This could be indicative of the granular structure with randomly oriented grains. Our results demonstrate that this process is a promising candidate for the fabrication of MgB2 superconducting devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has been conducted on the free radicals generated via the reaction of lithium amides with tert-butyl peroxybenzoate in tetrahydrofuran. The details of this reaction are presented.

Research has been conducted on the monomeric N-alkoxyarylaminyl radicals. The isolation of these radicals has been carried out and investigates and their chemical and magnetic properties have been described.