Hasil untuk "Life"

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arXiv Open Access 2026
Distinguishing life from non-life via molecular frontier orbital energy gaps

José L. Ramírez-Colón, Ziqin Ni, Christopher E. Carr

Amino acids (AAs) are a key target in the search for life beyond Earth due to their extensive role in the machinery of all known life, persistence over geologic timescales, and analytical detectability. However, AAs can also arise from abiotic processes on planets and in space. For example, material from asteroid Bennu contained 33 AAs, including 15 of the 20 proteinogenic AAs that are fundamental to life's functions. Distinguishing life from non-life based on AAs in a sample remains an unsolved problem, particularly when their isotopic and structural signatures (e.g., chirality) could be altered via physicochemical processes. Here we introduce LUMOS (Life Unveiled via Molecular Orbital Signatures), a statistical framework that distinguishes life from non-life by analyzing the distribution of abundance-weighted HOMO-LUMO gap (HLG) values of AAs within a sample. Compilation of AAs datasets from diverse environments and provenances revealed that abiotic samples display highly uniform distributions of AAs HLGs. In contrast, biotic samples show greater variance and preference towards AAs with lower HLG, likely reflecting the need for life to control when, where, and how chemical reactions occur. LUMOS achieves >95% accuracy in distinguishing biotic versus abiotic provenance across diverse environmental and extraterrestrial conditions. These results suggest that varied molecular reactivity within biochemical systems may be a universal feature of life, representing an agnostic biosignature unlinked to the specific set of AAs used by life as we know it. LUMOS is compatible with existing analytical instrumentation, applicable to returned samples or in situ analyses. Broader characterization of abiotic and biotic environments will further refine the chemical boundaries separating biotic from abiotic chemical systems.

en astro-ph.EP, physics.chem-ph
arXiv Open Access 2025
Enhancing Mars Life Explorer (MLE) with True Agnostic Life Detection Capabilities

Gabriella Rizzo, Jan Spacek

The Mars Life Explorer (MLE) mission concept offers a critical opportunity to investigate whether extant life exists within the mid-latitude ice deposits of Mars. However, MLE's current science traceability matrix emphasizes habitability assessment and organic chemistry over direct life detection. As crewed missions to Mars may occur as early as 2040, the window for uncontaminated robotic exploration is rapidly closing. A high-confidence determination of Martian life must be achieved before irreversible anthropogenic contamination compromises scientific integrity. This paper evaluates the scientific, technical, and policy limitations of the current MLE architecture and recommends specific instrumentation upgrades and governance measures necessary to enable definitive and agnostic life detection while safeguarding planetary protection.

en astro-ph.IM, astro-ph.EP
DOAJ Open Access 2025
Research on a Comprehensive Performance Analysis Method for Building-Integrated Photovoltaics Considering Global Climate Change

Ran Wang, Caibo Tang, Yuge Ma et al.

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) represent a pivotal technology for enhancing the utilization of renewable energy in buildings. However, challenges persist, including the lack of integrated design models, limited analytical dimensions, and insufficient consideration of climate change impacts. This study proposes a comprehensive performance assessment framework for BIPV that incorporates global climate change factors. An integrated simulation model is developed using EnergyPlus8.9.0, Optics6, and WINDOW7.7 to evaluate BIPV configurations such as photovoltaic facades, shading systems, and roofs. A multi-criteria evaluation system is established, encompassing global warming potential (GWP), power generation, energy flexibility, and economic cost. Future hourly weather data for the 2050s and 2080s are generated using CCWorldWeatherGen under representative climate scenarios. Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to assess performance across variable combinations, supplemented by sensitivity and uncertainty analyses to identify key influencing factors. Results indicate (1) critical design parameters—including building orientation, wall thermal absorptance, window-to-wall ratios, PV shading angle, glazing optical properties, equipment and lighting power density, and occupancy—significantly affect overall performance. Equipment and lighting densities most influence carbon emissions and flexibility, whereas envelope thermal properties dominate cost impacts. PV shading outperforms other forms in power generation. (2) Under intensified climate change, GWP and life cycle costs increase, while energy flexibility declines, imposing growing pressure on system performance. However, under certain mid-century climate conditions, BIPV power generation potential improves due to altered solar radiation. The study recommends integrating climate-adaptive design strategies with energy systems such as PEDF (photovoltaic, energy storage, direct current, and flexibility), refining policy mechanisms, and advancing BIPV deployment with climate-resilient approaches to support building decarbonization and enhance adaptive capacity.

Building construction
DOAJ Open Access 2025
Self-Concept and Self-Esteem: Relevant Variables in the Life Satisfaction of Teachers

Óscar Gavín-Chocano, Guillermo Sanz-Junoy, David Molero

Over the last two decades, the number of people who practice activities in the natural environment has increased and the demand for teachers for these activities has grown. It is necessary to analyze the impact of different psychosocial and emotional factors, such as self-concept, self-esteem, satisfaction with life and well-being, in teachers of special regime sports education, as regulated training in the Spanish educational system. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between physical, emotional and social self-concept and self-esteem and to study the influence of self-esteem between self-concept and life satisfaction in teachers. The participants of the study were 788 teachers of special regime sports education, from the regulated training educational system of Spain. The instruments used were the Self-Concept-Scale-AF5, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Questionnaire and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. To present the results of the study, a structural equation model, PLS-SEM, was developed based on the theoretical framework analyzed, with an explanatory-predictive approach. The evidence showed the coefficients of determination for self-esteem (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.395; <i>Q</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.268) and life satisfaction (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.334; <i>Q</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.237) as being the appropriate adjustment. The acquisition of an adequate self-concept and correct self-esteem allows practitioners of sports disciplines in the natural environment to have greater life satisfaction.

DOAJ Open Access 2025
Improving Muscle Function Through a Multimodal Behavioural Intervention for Knee Osteoarthritis and Obesity: The POMELO Trial

Kristine Godziuk, Mary Forhan, Flavio T. Vieira et al.

ABSTRACT Background Treatments aimed at improving physical function and body composition, including reducing fat mass (FM) and increasing muscle mass, may benefit individuals with advanced knee osteoarthritis (OA) and obesity. We investigated the feasibility and efficacy of a multimodal behavioural intervention compared to usual care to enhance physical function and muscle mass in this population. Methods The POMELO (Prevention Of MusclE Loss in Osteoarthritis) study is a two‐arm pilot randomized controlled trial; NCT05026385. Participants aged 40–75 years, with a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 and knee OA were randomized 1:1 to either the intervention group (POMELO) or usual care (UC). The 3‐month POMELO intervention incorporated progressive resistance exercise (3 sessions/week), individualized nutrition counselling targeted for OA, and 12 group education sessions on nutrition and arthritis self‐management. The UC group received standard clinical care. After the 3‐month supervised intervention, both groups were followed for 6 months without support. Assessments at baseline, 3 months and 9 months (primary endpoint) included body composition (DXA, measuring FM and appendicular lean soft tissue [ALST]), physical function (chair‐sit‐to‐stands [CSTS], 6‐min walk [6MWT], maximal handgrip strength [HGS]), and health‐related quality of life (Euroqol visual analog scale [EQ‐5D VAS]). Co‐primary outcomes were feasibility (intervention completion ≥ 80% and per‐protocol adherence ≥ 60% [i.e., attendance at 12 education sessions and exercise 3 ×/week]) and acceptability (4‐item Likert‐scale satisfaction survey, and open‐ended questions). Secondary outcomes included changes in physical function and ALST. Results Fifty participants were randomized (POMELO = 25, UC = 25), with 32 completing the study (69% female, mean age 64.9 ± 1.2 years, BMI 42.1 ± 1.0 kg/m2). The POMELO intervention group had 80% completion and 74% adherence, confirming feasibility. Higher satisfaction rates were observed in POMELO compared to UC (3.5 vs. 2.2, p < 0.001) indicating greater acceptability. The POMELO group had improvements in CSTS (mean difference [MD] 3.96, ES 1.2, p < 0.001), 6MWT (MD 31.6 m, ES 0.4, p = 0.039) and EQ‐5D VAS (MD 7.9 points, ES = 0.4, p = 0.01) compared to UC. Both groups experienced FM loss, but only the UC group lost ALST and HGS. Conclusion The POMELO intervention, combining personalized nutrition, resistance exercise and self‐management support, was feasible, acceptable and showed greater efficacy than usual care to improve physical function in patients with knee OA and obesity. Our pilot study of this intervention showed potential benefits on body composition and quality of life without focusing on weight reduction. A larger study is needed to confirm these results, as this approach may offer advantages over usual care, potentially leading to better mobility and health outcomes.

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, Human anatomy
arXiv Open Access 2024
The Second Law of Thermodynamics, Life and Earth's Planetary Machinery Revisited

Axel Kleidon

Life is a planetary feature that depends on its environment, but it has also strongly shaped the physical conditions on Earth, having created conditions highly suitable for a productive biosphere. Clearly, the second law of thermodynamics must apply to these dynamics as well, but how? What insights can we gain by placing life and its effects on planetary functioning in the context of the second law? In Kleidon (2010), I described a thermodynamic Earth system perspective by placing the functioning of the Earth system in terms of the second law. The Earth system is represented by a planetary hierarchy of energy transformations that are driven predominantly by incoming solar radiation, these transformations are constrained by the second law, but they are also modified by the feedbacks from various dissipative activities. It was then hypothesised that life evolves its dissipative activity to the limits imposed by this hierarchy and evolves feedbacks aimed at pushing these limits to higher levels of dissipative activity. Here I provide an update of this perspective. I first review applications to climate and global climate change to demonstrate its success in predicting magnitudes of physical processes, particularly regarding temperatures, heat redistribution and hydrological cycling. I then focus on the limits to dissipative activity of the biosphere. It would seem that the limitations by thermodynamics act indirectly by imposing limitations associated with transport and material exchange. I substantiate this interpretation and discuss the broader implications for habitability, the emergence and evolution of life, and the contemporary biosphere.

en physics.geo-ph, physics.ao-ph
DOAJ Open Access 2024
Perception of diagnosis by family caregivers in severe brain injury patients in China

Yifan Yan, Meiqi Li, Jitka Annen et al.

Abstract Objectives Surrogate decision-making by family caregivers for patients with severe brain injury is influenced by the availability and understanding of relevant information and expectations for future rehabilitation. We aimed to compare the consistency of family caregivers’ perceptions with clinical diagnoses and to inform their expectation of prognosis in the future. Methods The Coma Recovery Scale-Revised was used to assess the diagnosis of inpatients with severe brain injury between February 2019 and February 2020. A main family caregiver was included per patient. The family caregiver’s perception of the patient’s consciousness and expectations of future recovery were collected through questionnaires and compared consistently with the clinical diagnosis. Results The final sample included 101 main family caregivers of patients (57 UWS, unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, 37 MCS, minimally conscious state, 7 EMCS, emergence from MCS) with severe brain injury. Only 57 family caregivers correctly assessed the level of consciousness as indicated by the CRS-R, showing weak consistency (Kappa = 0.217, P = 0.002). Family caregivers’ demographic characteristics and CRS-R diagnosis influenced the consistency between perception and clinical diagnosis. Family caregivers who provided hands-on care to patients showed higher levels of consistent perception (AOR = 12.24, 95% CI = 2.06-73.00, P = 0.006). Compared to UWS, the family caregivers of MCS patients were more likely to have a correct perception (OR = 7.68, 95% CI = 1.34–44.06). Family caregivers had positive expectations for patients’ recovery in terms of both communication and returning to normal life. Conclusion Nearly half of family caregivers have inadequate understanding of their relative’s level of consciousness, and most of them report overly optimistic expectations that do not align with clinical diagnosis. Providing more medical information to family caregivers to support their surrogate decision-making process is essential.

Special situations and conditions
DOAJ Open Access 2024
Factors Influencing Adherence to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy After Breast Cancer Surgery

Aina Johnsson, Anna vonWachenfeldt

ABSTRACT Background Women with newly diagnosed hormone receptor‐positive breast cancer are offered adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET). Despite the survival benefits of the therapy, a significant proportion of breast cancer patients do not adhere to the anti‐hormonal medication. Aims The purpose of this study was to analyse demographic, social, psychological and treatment‐related factors influencing whether women diagnosed with early‐stage breast cancer were adherent to offered therapy. Materials and Methods This was a long‐term retrospective, medical record study, supplemented with a questionnaire, including 81 women. Data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register were used to examine adherence. The women were followed for 5 years of offered AET. Results Out of 81 women, 67 (83%) were adherent (hade taken out 80% or more of the recommended dose), 10 (12%) were Partially Adherent and 4 (5%) never accepted AET. At baseline, the Never‐Adherent group members were younger, more often considered themselves healthy and seemed much more satisfied with their lives. Baseline factors that positively affected adherence were satisfaction with the vocational situation (p = 0.023) and satisfaction with family life (p = 0.040). Cumulative musculoskeletal side effects were more frequently reported among women in the Adherent group than Partially Adherent women, after both 12 and 60 months (p = 0.018 and p = 0.011, respectively). There was also a significant difference in reported cumulative psychological side effects (p = 0.049) in disfavour of the Adherent group. Moreover, according to the questionnaire where the women retrospectively were asked which side effects, they experienced during the treatment period; sexual desire was significantly lower in the Adherent group (p = 0.0402) than in the Partially Adherent group. Conclusion It is important to consider a woman's life situation, to support those who otherwise would not be able to complete AET and to help all women relieve side effects during AET. It should be investigated why some women did not start the recommended therapy.

Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
DOAJ Open Access 2024
The voice of depression: speech features as biomarkers for major depressive disorder

Felix Menne, Felix Dörr, Julia Schräder et al.

Abstract Background Psychiatry faces a challenge due to the lack of objective biomarkers, as current assessments are based on subjective evaluations. Automated speech analysis shows promise in detecting symptom severity in depressed patients. This project aimed to identify discriminating speech features between patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls (HCs) by examining associations with symptom severity measures. Methods Forty-four MDD patients from the Psychiatry Department, University Hospital Aachen, Germany and fifty-two HCs were recruited. Participants described positive and negative life events, which were recorded for analysis. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression gauged depression severity. Transcribed audio recordings underwent feature extraction, including acoustics, speech rate, and content. Machine learning models including speech features and neuropsychological assessments, were used to differentiate between the MDD patients and HCs. Results Acoustic variables such as pitch and loudness differed significantly between the MDD patients and HCs (effect sizes 𝜼2 between 0.183 and 0.3, p < 0.001). Furthermore, variables pertaining to temporality, lexical richness, and speech sentiment displayed moderate to high effect sizes (𝜼2 between 0.062 and 0.143, p < 0.02). A support vector machine (SVM) model based on 10 acoustic features showed a high performance (AUC = 0.93) in differentiating between HCs and patients with MDD, comparable to an SVM based on the BDI-II (AUC = 0.99, p = 0.01). Conclusions This study identified robust speech features associated with MDD. A machine learning model based on speech features yielded similar results to an established pen-and-paper depression assessment. In the future, these findings may shape voice-based biomarkers, enhancing clinical diagnosis and MDD monitoring.

arXiv Open Access 2023
Digital Life Project: Autonomous 3D Characters with Social Intelligence

Zhongang Cai, Jianping Jiang, Zhongfei Qing et al.

In this work, we present Digital Life Project, a framework utilizing language as the universal medium to build autonomous 3D characters, who are capable of engaging in social interactions and expressing with articulated body motions, thereby simulating life in a digital environment. Our framework comprises two primary components: 1) SocioMind: a meticulously crafted digital brain that models personalities with systematic few-shot exemplars, incorporates a reflection process based on psychology principles, and emulates autonomy by initiating dialogue topics; 2) MoMat-MoGen: a text-driven motion synthesis paradigm for controlling the character's digital body. It integrates motion matching, a proven industry technique to ensure motion quality, with cutting-edge advancements in motion generation for diversity. Extensive experiments demonstrate that each module achieves state-of-the-art performance in its respective domain. Collectively, they enable virtual characters to initiate and sustain dialogues autonomously, while evolving their socio-psychological states. Concurrently, these characters can perform contextually relevant bodily movements. Additionally, a motion captioning module further allows the virtual character to recognize and appropriately respond to human players' actions. Homepage: https://digital-life-project.com/

en cs.CV, cs.AI
arXiv Open Access 2023
Possibilities for methanogenic and acetogenic life in molecular cloud

Lei Feng

According to panspermia, life on Earth may have originated from life forms transported through space from elsewhere. These life forms could have passed through molecular clouds, where the process of methanogenesis could have provided enough energy to sustain living organisms. In this study, we have calculated the Gibbs free energy released from synthesizing hydrocarbons for methanogenic (acetogenic) life in a molecular cloud, with methane (acetic acid) as the final metabolic product. Our calculations demonstrate that the chemical reactions during methanogenesis can release enough free energy to support living organisms. The methanogenic life may have served as the predecessor of life on Earth, and there is some preliminary evidence from various molecular biology studies to support this idea. Furthermore, we propose a potential distinguishing signal to test our model.

en physics.pop-ph, astro-ph.EP
DOAJ Open Access 2023
Bio-Template Synthesis of V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@Carbonized Dictyophora Composites for Advanced Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

Wei Zhou, Guilin Zeng, Haotian Jin et al.

In terms of new-generation energy-storing devices, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are becoming the prime candidates because of their inexpensive nature, inherent safety, environmental benignity and abundant resources. Nevertheless, due to a restrained selection of cathodes, AZIBs often perform unsatisfactorily under long-life cycling and high-rate conditions. Consequently, we propose a facile evaporation-induced self-assembly technique for preparing V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@carbonized dictyophora (V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@CD) composites, utilizing economical and easily available biomass dictyophora as carbon sources and NH<sub>4</sub>VO<sub>3</sub> as metal sources. When assembled in AZIBs, the V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@CD exhibits a high initial discharge capacity of 281.9 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> at 50 mA g<sup>−1</sup>. The discharge capacity is still up to 151.9 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> after 1000 cycles at 1 A g<sup>−1</sup>, showing excellent long-cycle durability. The extraordinary high electrochemical effectiveness of V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@CD could be mainly attributed to the formation of porous carbonized dictyophora frame. The formed porous carbon skeleton can ensure efficient electron transport and prevent V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> from losing electrical contact due to volume changes caused by Zn<sup>2+</sup> intercalation/deintercalation. The strategy of metal-oxide-filled carbonized biomass material may provide insights into developing high-performance AZIBs and other potential energy storage devices, with a wide application range.

Organic chemistry
DOAJ Open Access 2023
Berlin Pankow: a 15-min city for everyone? A case study combining accessibility, traffic noise, air pollution, and socio-structural data

Jan-Peter Glock, Julia Gerlach

Abstract Cars are dominating urban traffic in cities around the world, even though daily trips in many cities are often realized with active modes of transportation or public transport. Urban transport planning processes need to adapt to this reality and the necessity of climate change mitigation. Against this background, the research project “Mobility Reporting”, a joint undertaking of the district Pankow in Berlin and researchers from TU Berlin and TU Dresden, established a new, goal-driven, and participative planning process. The process identified local mobility as one of the central planning goals. The 15-min city (FMC) was thus adduced as a benchmark to analyze the district’s current mobility system and development potential. We conducted extensive accessibility analyses to examine the status quo concerning the FMC. We calculated travel times to essential destinations in daily life by foot, public transport, and car. This analysis was accompanied by a mixed online and paper–pencil survey conducted to evaluate the perceived accessibility of people in Pankow. The survey results shed light on the question of which walking time thresholds constitute a “very good” or “good” accessibility. Further analyses included environmental and social variables, allowing us to check whether areas with different accessibility levels also differ regarding the socio-economic characteristics of their inhabitants. For example, do socially advantaged neighborhoods have better local accessibility? Is there a trade-off between exposure to environmental pollution and good accessibility? With this contribution, we shed light on what an FMC is and ought to be. Results from the survey support the normative and political vision of the FMC. Pankow generally offers the merits of a walkable city, showing the expected travel time differences between the dense inner city and the outskirts. Socially disadvantaged neighborhoods are not consistently less accessible. However, there seems to be a trade-off between good accessibility (especially PT accessibility) and correlated externalities of transport, namely air pollution and noise.

Transportation engineering, Transportation and communications
arXiv Open Access 2022
Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE): II. Signal simulation, signal extraction and fundamental exoplanet parameters from single epoch observations

Felix Dannert, Maurice Ottiger, Sascha P. Quanz et al.

The Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE) initiative is developing the science and a technology roadmap for an ambitious space mission featuring a space-based mid-infrared (MIR) nulling interferometer in order to detect the thermal emission of hundreds of exoplanets and characterize their atmospheres. In order to quantify the science potential of such a mission, in particular in the context of technical trade-offs, an instrument simulator is required. In addition, signal extraction algorithms are needed to verify that exoplanet properties (e.g., angular separation, spectral flux) contained in simulated exoplanet datasets can be accurately retrieved. We present LIFEsim, a software tool developed for simulating observations of exoplanetary systems with an MIR space-based nulling interferometer. It includes astrophysical noise sources (i.e., stellar leakage and thermal emission from local zodiacal and exo-zodiacal dust) and offers the flexibility to include instrumental noise terms in the future. LIFEsim provides an accessible way for predicting the expected SNR of future observations as a function of various key instrument and target parameters. The SNRs of the extracted spectra are photon-noise dominated, as expected from our current simulations. From single epoch observations in our mock survey of small ($R < 1.5 R_\mathrm{Earth}$) planets orbiting within the habitable zones of their stars, we find that typical uncertainties in the estimated effective temperature of the exoplanets are $\lesssim$10%, for the exoplanet radius $\lesssim$20%, and for the separation from the host star $\lesssim$2%. SNR values obtained in the signal extraction process deviate less than 10% from purely photon-counting statistics based SNRs. (abridged)

en astro-ph.EP, astro-ph.IM
arXiv Open Access 2022
Venus Life Finder Missions Motivation and Summary

Sara Seager, Janusz J. Petkowski, Christopher E. Carr et al.

Finding evidence of extraterrestrial life would be one of the most profound scientific discoveries ever made, advancing humanity into a new epoch of cosmic awareness. The Venus Life Finder (VLF) missions feature a series of three direct atmospheric probes designed to assess the habitability of the Venusian clouds and search for signs of life and life itself. The VLF missions are an astrobiology-focused set of missions, and the first two out of three can be launched quickly and at a relatively low cost. The mission concepts come out of an 18-month study by an MIT-led worldwide consortium.

en astro-ph.IM, astro-ph.EP
DOAJ Open Access 2022
Psychological Factors Associated with Fibromyalgia and the Areas of Psychological Intervention

Rumeysa Eda Kanık Tezcan, Özden Yalçınkaya Alkar

Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal pain syndrome characterized with the presence of sensitive points and widespread chronic pain and restricts one's daily life activities and decreases the quality of life. The etiology of fibromyalgia is unclear, but there are numerous hypotheses regarding the emergence and progression of the disease. Among these, the biopsychosocial model offers a holistic framework in which biological, psychological and social mechanisms play a role in the development of fibromyalgia. Since the etiology of the disease is not yet understood, effective methods for its treatment have not been found, thus, interventions aim to reduce the effect of fibromyalgia and increase psychological and physiological functionality. This article aims to examine the psyhcological intervention areas and methods for fibromyalgia patients. In the literature, it is concluded that pain avoidance beliefs and behaviors, self-efficacy, physical activity, sleep quality, self-compassion, emotional skills, coping strategies, personality, comorbid psychopathology are the factors related with the emergence of the disease, severity of pain, and adherence to treatment in fibromyalgia patients. In this context, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), physical exercises, sleep management Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), compassion focused psychotherapies, mindfulness based psychotherapies, emotion expression and emotion regulation techniques, and biofeedback are recommended as effective methods which can be included in the treatment plans of fibromyalgia patients. Moreover, considering the psychosocial factors in the assessment processes was essential to establish individualized treatment plans. In addition, the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in the treatment processes of fibromyalgia has been discussed within the framework of the biopsychosocial model.

DOAJ Open Access 2022
The impact of globalization and climate change on Trichinella spp. epidemiology

Edoardo Pozio

The main reservoir hosts of nematodes of the genus Trichinella are wild carnivores, although most human infections are caused by the consumption of pork. This group of zoonotic parasites completes the entire natural life cycle within the host organism. However, there is an important phase of the cycle that has only been highlighted in recent years and which concerns the permanence of the infecting larvae in the striated muscles of the host carcasses waiting to be ingested by a new host. To survive in this unique biological niche, Trichinella spp. larvae have developed an anaerobic metabolism for their survival in rotting carcasses and, for some species, a resistance to freezing for months or years in cold regions. Climate changes with increasingly temperatures and reduction of environmental humidity lower the survival time of larvae in host carcasses. In addition, environmental changes affect the biology and ecology of the main host species, reducing their number and age composition due to natural habitat fragmentation caused by increasing human settlements, extensive monocultures, increasing number of food animals, and reduction of trophic chains and biodiversity. All of these factors lead to a reduction in biological and environmental complexity that is the key to the natural host-parasite balance. In conclusion, Trichinella nematodes can be considered as an indicator of a health natural ecosystem.

Infectious and parasitic diseases
DOAJ Open Access 2022
The Functional Role of Long Non-Coding RNA in Myogenesis and Skeletal Muscle Atrophy

Keisuke Hitachi, Masahiko Honda, Kunihiro Tsuchida

Skeletal muscle is a pivotal organ in humans that maintains locomotion and homeostasis. Muscle atrophy caused by sarcopenia and cachexia, which results in reduced muscle mass and impaired skeletal muscle function, is a serious health condition that decreases life longevity in humans. Recent studies have revealed the molecular mechanisms by which long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate skeletal muscle mass and function through transcriptional regulation, fiber-type switching, and skeletal muscle cell proliferation. In addition, lncRNAs function as natural inhibitors of microRNAs and induce muscle hypertrophy or atrophy. Intriguingly, muscle atrophy modifies the expression of thousands of lncRNAs. Therefore, although their exact functions have not yet been fully elucidated, various novel lncRNAs associated with muscle atrophy have been identified. Here, we comprehensively review recent knowledge on the regulatory roles of lncRNAs in skeletal muscle atrophy. In addition, we discuss the issues and possibilities of targeting lncRNAs as a treatment for skeletal muscle atrophy and muscle wasting disorders in humans.

DOAJ Open Access 2022
Maternal Mood and Perception of Infant Temperament at Three Months Predict Depressive Symptoms Scores in Mothers of Preterm Infants at Six Months

Grazyna Kmita, Grazyna Kmita, Eliza Kiepura et al.

Postpartum depression is more prevalent in mothers and fathers of preterm infants compared to parents of full-term infants and may have long-term detrimental consequences for parental mental health and child development. The temperamental profile of an infant has been postulated as one of the important factors associated with parental depressiveness in the first months postpartum. This study aimed to examine the longitudinal relationship between depressive symptoms and perceived infant temperament at 3 months corrected age, and depressive symptoms at 6 months corrected age among mothers and fathers of infants born preterm. We assessed 59 families with infants born before the 34th gestational week using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS) and the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised. We found that mothers’ scores on EPDS and infants’ Orienting/regulation at 3 months corrected age predicted mothers’ EPDS scores at 6 months corrected age. In particular, higher depressive scores were related to higher depressive symptoms at 6 months corrected age, whereas higher infant Orienting/regulation was related to lower depressive symptoms at 6 months corrected age. Due to the low internal consistency of EPDS at 6 months for fathers, we were unable to conduct similar analyses for fathers. Our results point to the importance of considering both early indices of maternal mood as well as mother-reported measures of preterm infant temperament in the attempts to predict levels of maternal depressiveness in later months of an infant’s life. Further studies are urgently needed in order to better understand the associations between depressiveness and infant temperament in fathers, and with more consideration for the severity of the effects of infant prematurity.

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